Patricia (Pat) Ann Dietz. 3/10/26 – 6/13/21. She was truly an angel on earth.
Surrounded by family, she peacefully passed joining her fellow angels in heaven on Sunday, June 13 at The Pines, the former property of her late parents John and Mary Burg.
Patricia was the last of the living Burg children. She was born in the family home on Garfield Street in 1926 and attended St. Mary Catholic School across the street. She was affectionately called “Pappy” by her father and may have waited on you at the counter of the old Burg drugstore downtown. Like her siblings before her, Pat started pouring fountain drinks at the age of 11.
Growing up, she spent adventurous summers with her sisters Mary Jane (Lanning), Virginia (Rowe), Angeline (Foster), Gretchen (Spaulding) and Lou (Guirey) at the family cottage on Crooked Lake, fishing, swimming and making daily walks around Cavanaugh Lake to the store for candy. Her only brother Vince Burg was the last of the Burg children born.
She graduated from CHS in 1944. Her yearbook noted that she had “a gifted brain and a voice that sings and thrills”. She was a member of the: Chorus, Journalism Club, Home Ec. Club, Student Council, Triple Trio Band, Swing Band and yearbook staff.
We will celebrate her life starting with a public viewing at Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home in Chelsea on Thursday, June 24 from 2-4 p.m. A Rosary in her honor with be held that evening 6-8 p.m. Her funeral will be Friday, June 25 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Church with a private burial to follow and lunch immediately after at the churches gathering space.
For the full obituary, please click here.
Gerald William Smith. The world lost a truly unique soul and bright light on June 1 , 2021 when Gerald William Smith passed away suddenly in Chelsea at age 68.
Born and raised in Detroit to Shirley (Peters) Smith and Douglas Smith, Gerry there met and wed his true love and partner, Fran (Gomula) Smith. He poured his heart into raising their three girls, Theresa Clark, Rachel Smith, and Brianna Smith, and was an incredibly proud and wonderful father and later, grandfather to Quinn and Rosie. Brother to Christine Kukier, (Donald), Douglas Smith, (Priscilla), Margaret Smith, (Chuck), David Smith, (Beth), Thomas Smith, Steve Smith, (Mary), Larry Smith, (Tina), Elizabeth Smith, and Marilyn Smith. Brother-in- law to Mary, Michael, Louise, and Ed; father-in-law to Zachariah Clark, uncle and friend to many more.
There will be a celebration of his life on Sunday, June 27 at 2 p.m. at Robin Hills Farm in Chelsea.
For the full obituary, please click here.
