Obituaries

Gwendolyn L. Rich

Died October 2, 2013

 

SUTTONS BAY – Gwendolyn “Gwen” Louise (Gregory) Rich, 75, of Suttons Bay, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013 at Traverse Victorian Inn.

  Gwen was born on March 26, 1938 in Detroit, the daughter of Fred Everett (Tyke) Gregory and Margaret Gordon (Paterson) Gregory.  On July 2, 1977 she married the late James L. Rich in Bay City.

  Gwen graduated from Mt. Whitney High School, Visalia, Calif.; attended College of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif., graduated from Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School in Montclair, New Jersey.  Gwen worked for Ford Motor Co. and retired in 1994.  She loved gardening counted cross-stich, knitting, and quilting.

  After retirement, she volunteered in many organizations in the area.  Gwen was on the board of directors for the Art Center, Northwest Michigan Woodcarvers, ShareCare of Leelanau, and Lake Leelanau Lake Assoc.  Gwen was invested into the Papal Order of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcre of Jerusalem at Notre Dame in 2007.

  Gwen had some great friends (June & Roger Hansen of Traverse City, Dave & Marcia Zielinski of Lake Leelanau, and Shirley Smith of Plymouth and Naples, Fla.) who helped her greatly after Jim passed away.  She was preceded in death by Jim in 2009 and by her parents.

  Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4 with the Rosary to be prayed at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church of Lake Leelanau.  The mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5 also at St. Mary’s with a luncheon to follow.  A private burial at a later date at St. Mary’s Cemetery will take place after cremation. 

  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the James & Gwen Rich Endowed Scholarship Fund (St. Mary’s School Endowment Fund) P.O. Box 340, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653 and/or to ShareCare of Leelanau, 7401 E. Duck Lake Road, #600, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653 and/or the Leelanau Conservancy, P.O. Box 1007, Leland, MI 49654 and/or the Inland Seas Education Assoc., P.O. Box 218, Suttons Bay, MI 49682 and/or to Munson Hospice House, 1105 Sixth St., Traverse City, MI 49684.

  Please share memories with Gwen’s friends at the online obituary at www.martinson.info.

  Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.