Joseph Martin Ladiski, Audrey Luella Stoneman, Dianta L. Naftali, Young Ja Cressman, Mariam Patton
Joseph Martin Ladiski
Joseph Martin Ladiski, age 61, of Elsie, Michigan passed away Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at Sparrow Clinton Hospital, St. Johns, Michigan.
Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie, MI on Saturday, September 26, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. Burial will take place at Fairfield Township Cemetery Fairfield Township, Michigan. Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 24, 2015 from 6-8 P.M. and Friday, September 25, 2015 from 2-8 P.M. with family present from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. at the funeral home.
Joseph was born in St. Johns, Michigan on March 19, 1954, the son of Frank and Jennie (Horak) Ladski. Joseph married Darla Lynn Seelhoff.
Joseph was a Tool and Dye Maker. He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, Ovid, MI
Online condolences can be sent to The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie, Michigan.
Audrey Luella Stoneman
Audrey Luella (Vaughn) Stoneman, 86, of Perrinton, Michigan passed away on Sunday, September 20, 2015, at Grace Haven Assisted Living Center, St. Johns, Michigan. Audrey was born on March 27, 1929 in Clinton County to the late Harry and Luetta Frances (Pease) Vaughn and lived her entire life in the mid-Michigan area. In 1946, Audrey graduated from Fulton High School, Middleton, Michigan where she met Richard “Dick” Stoneman. On February 26, 1949, they were married in St. Johns, Michigan. Together they raised three children on the family farm near Pompeii, Michigan.
Audrey enjoyed playing board games and card games, including euchre, with friends and family. Audrey was a good cook. Her family especially enjoyed her Sunday chicken dinners. She canned many food items throughout the years, most from her large garden. Audrey was a good helpmate for her husband, Dick, often driving tractor for him during the farming/haying seasons. For many years, Audrey raised chickens, selling their eggs. Audrey enjoyed camping with Dick, their children, grandchildren and other family members, including her sisters, husbands, & their families, spending many fun times at Higgins and Mullet Lakes. She especially took pleasure in going to the Upper Peninsula where she and Dick would join their friends to enjoy the playing and singing of blue grass music.
Audrey is survived by her three children, Julie (David) Stain of St. Johns, Lance (Jacalyn) Stoneman of Ithaca, and Connie (Vic) Upton of St. Johns; seven grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; siblings, Majel Garberson, Harry Vaughn, Jr., and Ruth Ann (Byron)Townsend; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, Dick, Audrey was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Beverly Johnson and Mereta Loudenbeck; brothers-in-law, Omar Garberson, Don Loudenbeck and Carl Stoneman; sister-in-law, Edna Vaughn; nephew, Val Loudenbeck; and great-grandson, Braydon Upton.
The family wishes to thank all the staff of Grace Haven Assisted Living Center and Hospice Advantage for providing such excellent care to Audrey. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Barden Funeral Home of Ithaca, Michigan. Per Audrey’s wishes, there will be no funeral nor memorial service. Burial will be at the Fulton Center Cemetery, Fulton Township, Gratiot County. Memorial contributions may be made in Audrey’s honor to either of the following organizations: Pompeii United Methodist Church, c/o Glenda Braman, Treasurer, 6569 S. Croswell Road, Ashley, Michigan 48806 and Gratiot County Historical and Genealogical Society, 228 W. Center Street, Ithaca, Michigan 48847
Dianta L. Naftali
Dianta L. Naftali, 77, of Traverse City passed away peacefully on September 20, 2015 at Munson Hospice House.
DIantha was born and raised in White Plains, NY, the daughter of Earl and Constance Lundin. Upon graduating from the University of Michigan, she worked as part of the wait staff of Watevale Inn, a place which would become and remain deep within her heart and the heart of her family. Diantha became a permanently adopted Michigander when she married and became the mother of three children. She was a resident of Lansing, E. Lansing, Kalamazoo, St. Johns, and finally northwest-lower Michigan in 1992, where she lived in both Suttons Bay and Traverse City.
From the age of three, music played a major part in her life when she became part of a choir; began to study the piano at age five; and became an accompanist at age ten. While living downstate she earned certification to teach piano from the Michigan Music Teachers Association, and she taught students for more than 20 years. Volunteering and being involved in both church and community were always a part of Diantha’s life, a trait that she successfully passed on to her family, as well as the love of food and of hosting family, friends, and even strangers around her table. These things form her legacy. Once she settled into retirement, she again served as a church musician – this time at Suttons Bay Congregational Church where she also served for three terms as a deacon. She was the accompanist for Leelanau Children’s Choir and Youth Ensemble for 17 years; a duo pianist with Liz Bannister of Traverse City; a Hospice Volunteer for many years; and member of P.E.O.
Diantha is survived by husband Robert; son Guven Peter Witteveen (Lesley); daughters Ellen Teisman (William); Sarah Boynton (David); and grandchildren Phillip and Ana Witteveen; Ben, Emily, and John Teisman; and Justin, Mason, and Evan Rohrback; brother Howard Lundin (Loraine) of Mercer, PA, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and her brother Earl Lundin, Jr.
A memorial service will take place on Sunday, September 27, 2015 at 1:00 pm at the Suttons Bay Congregational Church. Visitation will be on Saturday, September 26, 2015 from 3 -5 and 7 -9 at Cedar Creek Senior Apartments, 12047 S. Elk Run, Traverse City. Because choral music was part of Diantha’s life for 75 years, her family encourages those who knew her through choral groups, to join in the singing of two anthems by John Rutter: “The Lord is My Shepherd,” and “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.” Rehearsal promptly at 12 noon prior to the service. Copies of the music will be provided.
In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest that Diantha be remembered by contributions to Leelanau Children’s Choir and Youth Ensemble (P.O. Box 688, Suttons Bay 49682); Munson Hospice House (401 Brook St, Traverse City 49684); or the Michael J. Rolfe Pancreatic Cancer Foundation (17 North State St., Suite 1550, Chicago, IL 60602).
Please visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com to sign Diantha’s online guestbook and to share your condolences with the family.
Young Ja Cressman
Young Ja Cressman, 76, of St. Johns, died July 3, 2015. Graveside services 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at Mount Rest Cemetery, St. Johns.
Mariam Patton
Mariam Patton went home to be with her Lord and Savior on September 18, 2015. She was born on February 24, 1929 in Terre Haute, Indiana, and lived there until she graduated from Union Hospital School of Nursing in 1950. She married William Patton September 8, 1950 and they had three children. For 21 years she worked part time as a registered nurse, some of that time at Clinton Memorial in St. Johns. The Pattons have loved living in St. Johns since 1966 and being members of the First Baptist Church.
She is survived by her daughters Linda Patton, Mary Beth (Thomas) Moldenhauer, and son, Thomas (Anita) Patton; grandchildren Luke (Jennifer) Moldenhauer, Analee (Jeremy) Lounds, Colleen (Michael) Douglas, Victoria (David) Martin, William (Alison) Patton, Sandra (Caleb) Wagner; her great-grandchildren Malachi, Juliana, Desmond, and soon-to-arrive Cecilia Lounds; Jacob, Amelia, and Sean Douglas; Aiden and Adison Martin; Aria Patton; and soon-to-arrive Baby Moldenhauer; half-brother Donald (Cindy) Sparks and their daughter Kayla (David) Trewitt. Mariam was preceded in death by her parents, step-parents, and her husband Bill on February 13, 1986.
Funeral Service will be held at First Baptist Church on Tuesday, September 22 at 1:00 pm with Pastor Tim Knaus officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:00pm to 1:00pm. Interment is at Mount Rest Cemetery. Those planning on an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorial contributions to Youth Haven Ranch, 3796 Perrine Rd, Rives Junction, MI 49277.
The family is being served by the Osgood Funeral Homes.
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