Nellie Irene Smith
Services for former Garden City resident Nellie "Lee" Smith, 93, of Zephyrhills, Fla. were Jan. 22, in R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home with burial at Parkview Memorial Cemetery.
Mrs. Smith was born Nov. 30, 1909, in Knoxville, Tenn., and died Jan. 18, 2003. She worked for Lockheed in California, then was a homemaker in Michigan.
Surviving are her husband, Oscar; children, James Kirby of California, Joan Hunter of Florida, formerly of Garden City, Lee Kirby of California; sister, Emma Berry of Garden City; 15 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her daughter, Lethea Kirshner.
Memorial tributes may be made to First United Methodist Church of Garden City.
Ronald Gordon Bussinger
Services for Ronald Bussinger, 64, of Garden City were Jan. 27 in John N. Santeiu & Son Funeral Home. Officiating was the Rev. Kurt R. Radke from Christus Victor Lutheran Church.
Mr. Bussinger was born July 6, 1938, in Wyandotte, and died Jan. 23, 2003, in Superior Township. He was an iron worker in the construction business.
Surviving are his wife, Sharon; children, Tammy (Michael), Michele, Ronald, Clint, Kevin and Kelly; siblings, Donna (Mike) Struger, Robert (Nancy) Bussinger and Wayne (Barbara) Bussinger; brother-in-law, Gene Fisher; and 11 grandchildren.
Mr. Bussinger was preceded in death by his sister, Gloria Fisher.
Norma A. Tessman
Services for Norma Tessman, 72, of Garden City were Jan. 28 in John N. Santeiu & Son Funeral Home with burial at Cadillac Memorial Gardens West, Westland. Officiating was the Rev. Steven C. Koehler from St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church.
Mrs. Tessman was born July 18, 1930, in Detroit, and died Jan. 24, 2003, in Livonia. She was a homemaker.
Surviving are her husband, Arthur; daughters, Patricia (George) Wyniarski, Annette (Mike) Pellegrini and Gail (David) Carr; grandchildren, Christine, Barbara, Dominic, Gregory, Jennifer, Daniel and Michael; and great-granddaughter, Sarah.
Dustin Shane Mullins
Services for Dustin Mullins, 17, of Wayne were Jan. 28 in Vermeulen Funeral Home. Officiating was Gene Johnson.
Dustin was born Oct. 28, 1985, in Superior Township, and died, after a long battle with cystic fibrosis, on Jan. 25, 2003, in Ann Arbor. He lived in this area 4 1/2 years and previously lived in Florida for six years.
Dustin attended high school through the 10th grade. He was a dietary aide at Four Seasons Nursing Home. He attended Old Regular Baptist Church. He loved bowling.
Surviving are his father, Ricky Mullins, Sr. of Summerfield, Fla.; Bonnie Mullins of Wayne; brother, Ricky Mullins, Jr.; grandmother, Carol Maddox of Garden City; and grandparents, Doug and Kathy Mullins of River Rouge and Tom and Bonnie Roche of Wayne.
Memorial tributes may be made to Mott Children's Hospital, Ann Arbor.
Helen Shaw
Services for Helen "Nellie" Shaw, 85, of Livonia were Feb. 3 in L.J. Griffin Funeral Home. Officiating was the Rev. Larry D. Hoxey from Nativity United Church of Christ.
Mrs. Shaw was born Jan. 24, 1918, in Scotland, and died Jan. 31, 2003, in Livonia. She was a homemaker.
Surviving are her sons, Jack (Lynn) and Barry; and grandchildren, Lindsay, Megan, Alec, Andrew and Ella.
Mrs. Shaw was preceded in death by her husband, Osmond.
Alice Sarah Park
Services for Alice Park, 90, of Livonia were Feb. 1 in St. John Neumann Catholic Church, with burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield. Officiating was the Rev. Joseph Mallia.
Mrs. Park was born April 12, 1912, in Port Huron, Mich., and died Jan. 30, 2003, in Leslie, Mich. She was a homemaker who came to the Livonia community in 1967 from Detroit.
Mrs. Park was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church in Livonia. Mrs. Park was a foster grandmother at the Plymouth State home for five years.
Surviving are her children, Dr. Kenneth (Kathy) Park of Cary, Ill., Carl Park of Livonia, Kathleen Park of Northville, Kevin (Cherlyn) Park of Canton, Lisa (Ron) Keefer of Leslie and Jackie Kendal of West Bloomfield; sisters, Inez, Ann, Vera and Norma; 21 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Park was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth; son, Richard Park; brother, Bud; and sister, Mary.
Memorial tributes may be made to Foster Grandparent Program, Catholic Social Services of Wayne County, 9851 Hamilton Ave., Detroit, MI 48202 or St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905.
Arrangements were made by Schrader-Howell Funeral Home.
Martha E. Wilt
Services for Martha Wilt, 95, of Livonia were Feb. 3 in Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, with burial at Riverside Cemetery in Plymouth.
Mrs. Wilt was born Dec. 16, 1907, in New Albany, Ind., and died Jan. 30, 2003, in Livonia. She was a homemaker. She came to the Livonia community eight years ago from Plymouth. She had been a long-time resident of Plymouth.
Mrs. Wilt was a former member of the "Rock Exchange Club." Mrs. Wilt enjoyed collecting minerals and fossils, and jewelry making.
Surviving are her daughter, Linda (Ron) Frechen of Livonia, granddaughter, Jennifer Frechen of Livonia; and nephew, Warren Peters of Trenton.
Mrs. Wilt was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley.
Memorial tributes may be made to the National Kidney Foundation.
Mary Janet DeCoteau
Services for Mary DeCoteau, 94, of Livonia were Feb. 4 in St. Priscilla Church, with burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield. Officiating was Msgr. William Sherzer.
Mrs. DeCoteau was born Oct. 26, 1908, in Canada, and died Feb. 1, 2003, in Livonia. She was a waitress.
Surviving are her daughter, Jeannie Piscini; sister, Florence McKinnon; three grandchildren, and nieces and nephews, Andy (Jean), Neil, Kathryn (Tony), Mike (Lucy) and Darrell.
Mrs. DeCoteau was preceded in death by her sister, Kathryn.
Arrangements were made by Charles R. Step Funeral Home.
Bertha A. Loftis
Services for Bertha Loftis, 88, of Livonia were Feb. 3 in Harry J. Will Funeral Home, with burial at White Chapel Cemetery in Troy.
Mrs. Loftis died Jan. 30, 2003.
Surviving are her children, Charles (Jean Beverly) Loftis, Mary (Ron) Laakso and Betty (Harold) King; sister, Edna Chaffin of California; grandchildren, Kimberly, Judy (Joe), Sheryl (Rich), Lisa (Gary), Kelly, Michael (Kimm) and Brian (Carolyn); and 10 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Lortis was preceded in death by her husband, Otis.
Sophia Ballios
Services for Sophia Ballios, 87, of Livonia were Feb. 3 in St. Clement Orthodox Church in Dearborn, with burial at Grand Lawn Cemetery in Detroit.
Mrs. Ballios died Jan. 30, 2003.
Surviving are her children, Marion (Dewey) Andrews and Danny (Doris) Ballios; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Mrs. Ballios was preceded in death by her husband, Norman.
Arrangements were made by Harry J. Will Funeral Home.
Cynthia Cummins
Services for Cynthia Cummins, 45, of Livonia were Feb. 5 in St. Edith Catholic Church, with burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield.
Mrs. Cummins was born July 11, 1957, in Detroit, and died Feb. 1 in Garden City. She was a journeyman.
Surviving are her husband, Paul; son, Zachary Cummins; stepson, Shawn Cummins; daughter, Erin Cummins; and father, Lawrence Osowski.
Mrs. Cummins was preceded in death by her mother, Caroline.
Arrangements were made by Neely-Turowski Funeral Home.
Donald Allen Mercer
Services for former Redford resident Donald Mercer, 76, of Farmington Hills were Feb. 5 in Thayer-Rock Funeral Home.
Mr. Mercer was born Jan. 28, 1927, in Detroit, and died Feb. 2, 2003, in Royal Oak. He lived in Redford for 36 years before moving to Farmington Hills 13 years ago. He was a truck driver for Kroger 36 years, retiring in 1993. He was a former driver for Jefferson Trucking company and Excello Corp. He was a Union Steward for Teamsters Local No. 337. Mr. Mercer was a veteran, serving with the U.S. Marines.
Surviving are his wife of 50 years, Doris; sons, Robert of Farmington Hills, Dean (Sandra) Mercer of Florida and Kenneth Mercer of Livonia; daughters, Cynthia (Tony) Grech of Livonia and Carol Mercer of Brighton; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial tributes may be made to VFW Building, 406 W. 34th St., Suite 820, Kansas City, MO 64111.
H. David Buckingham
A memorial service for former Livonia resident H. David Bunkingham, 48, of Venice, Fla., was Jan. 31 in Lemon Bay Funeral Home, Venice Chapel in Venice, Fla.
Mr. Buckingham was born April 4, 1954, in Detroit, and died Jan. 27, 2003, inVenice, Fla. He lived in Venice since 1998.
Surviving are his son, Eric David of Michigan; parents, Harry and M. Elizabeth Buckingham; brother, Glenn (Alvena) of Camden, Maine; and sisters, Gail (Frank) Credit of Milford and Barbara (John) Hay of Traverse City.
Memorial tributes may be made to Hospice of SW Florida.
Harold J. Bateman
Services for Harold Bateman, 79, of Westland were today, Thursday, Feb. 6, in L.J. Griffin Funeral Home. Officiating were his daughter, Cindy Naylor, and brother, Frank Bateman.
Mr. Bateman was born May 24, 1923, in Weston, W.Va., and died Feb. 2, 2003, in the V.A. Hospital. He was a tool crib attendant for a wire company.
Surviving are his wife, Barbara; daughters, Cindy Naylor and Caryl (Greg) Wilfong of Livonia; siblings, Ruth Stout, Rita Cumberland, Frank (Evonne) and Lawrence; and four grandchildren.
Mr. Bateman was preceded in death by his son, Greg.
John T. Carlin
A funeral Mass for John Carlin, 72, of Livonia was Jan. 27 in St. Priscilla Catholic Church, Livonia.
Mr. Carlin died Jan. 23, 2003, in Southfield. He was retired from Comerica Bank in 1993, serving as vice president of branch No. 2 at that time.
He was a member of the Dearborn Goodfellows, received honors of the Knighthood in Oct. 1982 for the Knights of Columbus, was treasurer of the Dearborn Kwanis Club. Mr. Carlin belonged to The United Foundation, Boy Scouts of America and U of D Alumni Association. He was a 1949 graduate of St. Agnes High School in Detroit and a 1961 graduate of University of Detroit with bachelor's degree in business administration.
Mr. Carlin served in the U.S. Army from 1951-53.
After the death of his wife Lois in 1971, he raised his six children ranging in ages 1 to 11 years as a single parent.
Surviving are his children, Kim (Ken) O'Malley, Frank (Ann), Kelley (Jeff) Dehetre, John (Vicky), Laura and Jim; 10 grandchildren, Heather, J.P., Josh, Johnny, Carlin, Nicole, Danielle, Dustin, Frankie and Molly; two sisters; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial tributes may be made to Cancer Care Associates (Research), c/o Wm. Beaumont Hospital.
Arrangements were made by McCabe Funeral Home, Farmington Hills.
G. Stuart Dee
G. Stuart Dee, 59, of Livonia died Jan. 23, 2003.
Surviving are his wife, Elaine; children, David, John and Kathy; father, Glen Dee; and brother, Alan Dee.
Memorial tributes may be made to Alzheimers Association.
Arrangements were made by Harry J. Will Funeral Home.
Kathyrn Snitchler
Services for Kathyrn Snitchler, 76, of Brighton were Jan. 28 in St. Genevieve Catholic Church, Livonia with burial at Oakview Cemetery, Royal Oak. Officiating was the Rev. Howard Vogan.
Mrs. Snitchler was born March 14, 1926, in Baxter, Tenn., and died Jan. 24, 2003, in Clarkston. She was a restaurant waitress.
Surviving are her children, William Guild, Sharon (Gene) Trobaugh, Wendy (Robert) Gorski, Mark (Cheryl) of Livonia and Karl (Stacey); brother, Raymon Whitehead; sister, Ruth Driggers; 16 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Snitchler was preceded in death by her husband, John, and daughter, JoAnn (Robert) Krastes.
Arrangements were made by L.J. Griffin Funeral Home.
James Francis Rouhan
Services for James Rouhan, 58, of Livonia will be 11 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, in Neely-Turowski Funeral Home in Livonia, with burial at White Chapel Cemetery in Troy. Officiating will be the Rev. David McClure. Visitation is 4-9 p.m. today, Jan. 30, in the funeral home.
Mr. Rouhan was born July 7, 1944, in Detroit, and died Jan. 27, 2003, at his home in Livonia. He was a senior consultant. He was a veteran, serving with the U.S. Army.
Surviving are his wife, Janet; daughters, Lori Rouhan and Karen (Joseph) Stafford; siblings, Jayne Breckenridge, Mary Brennan, Michael Rouhan and Janet Srednicki; and grandchildren, Samantha and Joseph.
Mr. Rouhan was preceded in death by his siblings, Marguerite Rogers, Alice Livingston and Nathaniel Rouhan.
Esther Glendenning
Services for Esther Glendenning, 89, of Livonia will be 2:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, in the chapel at Oakland Hills Memorial Cemetery in Novi.
Mrs. Glendenning died Jan. 25, 2003.
There are family members who reside in the Farmington community.
Mrs. Glendenning was preceded in death by her husband, Charles.
Arrangements were made by Harry J. Will Funeral Home.
Leona L. Detz
Services for Leona Detz, 74, of Livonia were today, Thursday, Jan. 30, in Harry J. Will Funeral Home, with burial at Glen Eden Memorial Cemetery.
Miss Detz died Jan. 26, 2003.
Surviving is her friend, Dolores (Stan) Zalewski; and friends, Sandy, Gary and Kathy, Andrea, Courtney and Allison.
Miss Detz was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Lillian Detz.
Memorial tributes may be made to Faith Lutheran Church in Livonia.
