A Very Sad Monday

Two very sad funerals today. The first one is Tim and Susie's Mother Shirley Swedine. We've never met her, but our hearts go out to her whole family and especially to Tim and Susie. Susie's Mom died in February, and it just seems like too much to deal with for one year.



Shirley E. Swedine
(September 12, 1930 - September 29, 2006)

Shirley E. Swedine - Age 76, of Owosso, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, September 29, 2006. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Monday, October 2, 2006 from Grace Bible Church, 201 Michigan Avenue, Owosso, with Pastor Roger Rose officiating. Final rest will be at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 6 to 8 PM Saturday; 2-4 & 6-8 PM Sunday at Mowen Funeral Home. Mrs. Swedine will lay in state at the church on Monday from 9 AM until service time.

Mrs. Swedine was born September 12, 1930, in South Branch, Michigan, the daughter of James and Florence (Burr) Humphrey. She married Carl J. Swedine in South Branch on June 19, 1948. Mrs. Swedine was a homemaker and lived all her married life in Owosso. She was a graduate of Mio High School, Class of 1948. She was a member of Grace Bible Church of Owosso. She loved music and playing the piano. For a while, she also worked and played the piano in the youth groups and Sunday school. She liked to read and was a good golfer, bowler, loved to sew and do needle point. Mrs. Swedine loved tending her flower gardens, family get together's and making photo albums for all her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include: husband, Carl; children, Tim (Susan) Swedine, Kevin (Marion) Swedine, Melody Livingston, Eric Swedine, and Nancy (Jeff) Bateman; six grndchildren, Quincy, T.J., Erica, Ryan, Nicole and Nathan; four great grandchildren and two on the way; also, sisters, Marjorie DeVoe of Durand, Doris (Don) Mainprize of Higgins Lake and brother, James (Mae) Humphrey of Alabama; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by six brothers and one sister.

Memorials are suggested to the Grace Bible Church of Owosso.
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The second is Pauline Brigham Lather, who was a classmate of mine since elementary school. We went to Union Street School and were together all the way through graduation from Central High. Pauline was an amazing woman with a strong will to
live. Suffering from leukemia, she underwent a bone marrow transplant provided by her son, who was a perfect match. She went through a lengthy recovery, and even got back on the bike path and became quite active again. Evidently leukemia is even tougher than we are. She was a wonderful person, and her husband Dave was also in our junior high and high school class - he was always so pleasant and kind. I know it's been a struggle for him for many months now. At least Pauline's struggle is over.

Lather, Pauline Yvonne
TRAVERSE CITY — Pauline Yvonne Lather, 71, died on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006, in the arms of her husband and surrounded by her family, after a courageous battle with Leukemia.

She was born to Harvey Vernon and Eva Mae (Brighty) Brigham on April 25, 1935, in Grant Township, Grand Traverse County.

Pauline attended Union Street Grade School, graduated from Traverse City Central High School and Michigan State University.

She met the love of her life, David, in their junior year of high school; They were married by the Rev. Donn Doten at Central United Methodist Church on July 6, 1957.

She valued good health and an active life style. She enjoyed most outdoor sports, including sailing, skiing, cycling, roller blading, snowshoeing and hiking.

Pauline's greatest love was her family and many friends. She always saw the best in people. Pauline's faith was very strong, a faith she passed on to her children.

She was an active member of Central United Methodist Church, her Yokefellow Group, and was a Stephen Minister. She was office manager of Central United Methodist Church and retired as their bookkeeper-treasurer.

Pauline is survived by her husband, David; son, Brantley (Michelle) Lather of Midland; daughter, Lori (Jan) Hesprich of Traverse City; sister, Susan (Wallace) Tuttle of Traverse City; three grandchildren, Henry, Conrad and Sarah Lather of Midland; and mother-in-law, Leona Lather of Traverse City.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Vernon and Eva Mae Brigham.

In accordance with Pauline's wish, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held on Monday, Oct. 2, 2006, 11 a.m., at Central United Methodist Church in Traverse City. Visitation will begin one hour before the service. The Reverends John Ellinger, Tamara Williams and Dean Bailey will officiate. Inurnment of her cremains will be in the church columbarium.

Memorials may be directed to Central United Methodist Church or to the West 4 Oncology Unit at Munson Medical Center, Traverse City.

The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home; www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.
Published in the Record-Eagle on 10/1/2006.