Obituaries
Mary J. Workman
Mary Joyce Workman, “Aunt Mary” to all, died August 13, 2021. Mary, 60, of Charlotte was born on May 23, 1961, in Lansing to James and Vernal (Atwell) Workman. Mary graduated from Charlotte High School in 1979 and spent most of her career at the Collins Road Post Office front window. She retired in 2020 from the Dimondale Post Office after many dedicated years to the U.S. Postal Service. She will always be remembered as a loving, thoughtful, and generous woman who baked the best cinnamon rolls. Every Easter, the congregation at Peace Lutheran Church could count on a special cinnamon roll treat. Mary was so proud of her nieces and nephews and was very involved in their lives. Mary’s greatest loves were her fur babies. She would dress them up for special occasions, such as cowboy outfits at Frontier Days.
Mary is survived by her siblings, Roger (Marcia) Workman, Jim (Kim) Workman and Cheryl (Robert) White; nephews Michael Warren and Matt Pfeifer; best friend, Pamela Ochoa-Rodriguez. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Friends are encouraged to support Mary’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her tribute page at prayfuneral.com. Visitation is Saturday, August 21, 2021, 2 to 4 p.m. with the funeral immediately following in the Pray Funeral Home Gardens in Charlotte with Pastor Neil Brady officiating. The family invites attendees to a luncheon after the service at Peace Lutheran Church in Charlotte. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Howard E. Griffin Jr. “Griff”
May 8, 1951 – July 5, 2021
On May 8, 1951, Howard was born to Howard Griffin Sr. and Dorothy (Smutek), growing up in the Pennifield area. As a boy he was a dedicated Boy Scout and loved getting into mischief – especially when it involved the one he knew as dad, Wink and uncles, or on the Ashcraft farm in Olivet where he quickly became family.
He spent as much of his life as he could in nature – in the woods or on the water – camping, hunting, fishing, farming or just listening; or even racing and riding anything with a motor. A life-long believer in happiness, he knew no matter the situation or how bad he was hurting, he needed others happy. He was known for being goofy and funny, knowing how to make anyone smile.
He attended Pennifield High School where he loved playing sports, earning him a scholarship to U of M. In 1969 he graduated, turning down college to proudly join the Marine Corp. He left for San Diego, California for training and then traveled the world where needed most. Though a well-trained, high ranked, honorable Marine, he loved telling stories of pranks and mischief he and his brothers would do.
After returning home he married Kim Gallihugh and started his family shortly after, settling in Olivet where he was a loving, devoted father. He taught his children morals, honor, humor, the love of all nature and how to survive from her, and the basic needs to stay strong in life.
He married his partner in life, Sally, in the early 90’s, shortly after they purchased their little piece of heaven in Blaney Park, spending as much free time as they could there. That became easier after his retirement from Air Way Manufacturing in Olivet. They spent every spring and summer there in the tranquility of the woods, enjoying sitting on the deck and feeding the wildlife, especially the chipmunks.
Griff loved spending time with family and friends, telling stories over a hot cup of black coffee. He also enjoyed scratching scratchers or wearing cards out playing solitaire while keeping score.
Our proud Marine passed July 5, 2021, close the beautiful shores of Lake Superior while in the U.P. for the summer; it was one his favorite places on earth to be.
Griff was preceded in death by his grandparents, John and Leah Smutek; parents, Wink and Dorothy Brewer; biological father, Howard Griffin Sr.; along with many, many, friends and family members.
Surviving him are his wife, Sally; his son, Bridger; precious granddaughter, Dezeray; daughter and on-in-law, Charity and Pete; Godchildren, Chris, YoYo, and Lizzy; sister, Evelynn; brother, Wayne; his favorite uncle and aunt, Frank and Peg; his two best friends, Mike Schriner and Mike Rigelman; many nieces and nephews and friends; plus, a half-sister and –brother whom he was never able to meet, Michelle and Mike Griffin.
There was a private family viewing, respectfully arranged by the very caring and professional people of Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services in beautiful Marquette, MI, (906)-228-3040.
Any thoughts, memories or family contributions can be sent to Howard’s daughter, Charity Griffin, P.O. Box 293, Olivet, MI 49076.
Nicholas L. Kane
Nicholas “Nick” Lee Kane, born March 19, 1985 at 7:11 a.m. in Lansing at Sparrow Hospital and was taken from us too soon on August 14, 2021. Survived by his wife Shiria Nichole (Velasquez) Kane, son Ethan Lee Kane, girlfriend Rachael DePue, mother Kimberly K. Day (Scott), father Gary L. Kane, mother in-law Susan Houghton (Jeff), favorite father-in law Arthur Velasquez (Sandii Peterson), brother Brian Kane (Cindy), sister Jennifer Anderson (Phil), aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He was proceeded in death by his grandparents, Charles and Beverly Kane, Harvey and Shirley Gearhart and Arturo and Maria Velasquez. Early in his life he enjoyed playing high school football at Charlotte High School, weightlifting, Boy Scouts and yearly trips to Cedar Point. In his free time, you could find Nick enjoying a Michigan football game, working on and remodeling their home, finding items online that he could fix up using the skills he learned from his dad or helping those around him. He was the type of person that would give the shirt off his back if there was someone in need, if you didn’t know him, he may look intimidating, but those who knew and loved him knew he was just a big caring “Teddy Bear” with a contagious laugh and smile. His hard work ethic and competitive nature could be seen in everything from his job to playing games with his family, who he loved very much and were his pride and joy. In his final months he found extreme joy in his relationship with his growing family. Public visitation for Nick was held on Friday, August 20, at the Palmer, Bush & Jensen Family Funeral Home, Lansing Chapel, between 2 and 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., located at 520 E. Mt Hope Ave in Lansing. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 21, from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Tiger Den Pavilion within Potter Park Zoo on Pennsylvania Ave. The family requests that you wear either U of M attire or something blue in his honor.
Betty L. Bergeon
Betty Lou (Snider) Bergeon was born in Flint, Mich., on November 2, 1931, to Rolland & Lillian Snider. She was third of six children, Audrey, Ray, Betty, Clayton, Lyle, and Louise. The kids were raised to be hard workers, all helping on the family farm. They worked alongside their parents milking cows, feeding pigs, and doing field work in Clare, Michigan, then they moved to the farm on Columbia Road in Mason, Michigan in 1942. They worked hard together and played hard together. The Snider house was full of loud noise, laughter, card playing, and year-round fishing.
At the age of 14, Betty had her first job away from the farm, in town at the local bakery. She mixed, cooked, frosted, and ate lots of doughnuts. Betty graduated from Mason High School in 1951 and started work at Dart National Bank as a teller until 1954. From 1955-1966 she was a full-time home maker, then returned to Dart Bank to work from 1967-1972. Then Betty worked 15 years for Michigan National Bank as a customer service representative. In 1998, Betty Bergeon was federally certified as the airport manager of Bergeon Airfield in Mason Michigan, with her son-in-law, David Groh, helping her study for the test.
Betty Lou Snider and John Donald Bergeon were married January 30, 1954. Together they raised their five children, grew acres of pumpkins, five acres of strawberries, two acres of vegetables, re-built a 130-year-old farm house, flew hot air balloons, built and certified Bergeon Air Field, collected World War II equipment, and hosted many parties, family reunions, and get togethers in the airplane hangars. At Christmas they would hang thousands of lights outside and give away hundreds of all kinds of cookies. They enjoyed family, friends, and life to its fullest.
Fishing was Betty’s passion, and the reason why her family gave her the nickname Betty Bass. If she could get a line in the water, she was happy. Her family would go to the lake house near Rodney and at Grandpa Snider’s gravel pit and catch pan fish including croppy, bluegill, sunfish, bass, and perch. Some of Betty’s fondest memories were flying to Canada on an inland lake to fish when she was on crutches, and an ocean fishing excursion where she landed a blue fin tuna. Betty fought the tuna for several hours, her arms were on fire, but she never gave up until the huge fish was in the boat.
Betty worked with the St. James Catholic Church altar society. Having four daughters, Betty was a Girl Scout Leader for 17 years, planning and leading numerous camping trips, as well as many other activities. Helping each of her girls earn all their badges, she had sore fingers from sewing on badges. Also, an avid sewer and quilter, she was a long-time member of the capitol quilters guild and member of quilt clubs.
The Lord called Betty home the morning of August 14, 2021. A graveside service was held for the family. Betty was buried alongside her beloved husband, John, at Greenwood Cemetery in Mason, Michigan. John preceded her in death March 7, 1997, after 43 years of marriage.
Betty is survived by her five children, Debbie (Dave) Groh, Denise (Jim) Droscha, Rolland Bergeon, Dawn (Paul) Edenfield, and Diane (Harold Bailey) Bergeon; grandkids, Helise (Chris) Long, Jeremy (Jessica) Droscha, Katie (Andrew Rodgers) Droscha, Sarah (Dustin) Osborne, and Rolland Jay (Heather) Bergeon; seven great-grandkids, Ben and Natalie Long, Mason, Hannah, and Aubrey Droscha, and Charlotte and Luka Osborne; in-laws, Tom and Mickey Bergeon, and Nancy and Clair Bouts. Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 43-years, John; her parents; sister, Audrey Starr; brothers, Clayton, Lyle, and Ray Snider; her mother-in-law and father-in-law Mary and John C. Burgeon; and in-laws, Sue and Bill Parsons, and Dr. Milton and Marge Bergeon.
The family suggests memorial contributions be made in Betty’s name to First Baptist Church, 1110 S. Cochran Ave, Charlotte, MI 48813. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.
Rosalinda Cardenas
Rosalinda Cardenas, age 72, passed away July 29, 2021. She was born on September 21, 1948 to the late Maria and Alfonso Cardenas. She attended Charlotte High School until relocating to Summit, Ill. for 54 years of residency. Rosalinda was employed at Borg Warner as an inspector in Bellwood, Ill. for 45 years, retiring in 2014.
She is survived by her beloved siblings, Thomas Cardenas, Frank (Joyce) Cardenas, Raymond Cardenas, Amado (Jill) Cardenas, Dora (Sid) Silvas, Lydia (Miguel) Gallaga, and Mary Cybulski. She was a loving aunt to many nieces and nephews. She will be dearly missed but never forgotten, forever in our hearts.
Rosalinda was preceded in death by Marlene Cardenas, Dora Cardenas, Olivia (Jose) Amador, and Walter Cybulski.
A private memorial will be held at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte, Mich. at a later date.