Obituary for Ella Vallender
Ella Leota (Seltz) Vallender, age 90, of Beaverton, MI, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, peacefully joined her Lord, family and friends in Heaven on Thursday, April 7, 2011, from Nottingham Place Retirement Community in Midland, MI.
Ella was born in Secord Township, Gladwin County, MI, May 25, 1920, the second of the 12 children of Oscar Henry and Phoebe Elizabeth (Ensign) Seltz. She graduated from Gladwin High School in 1938. She met Donald Joseph Vallender in Midland, MI in 1939 while she was working as a waitress and he a technician at Dow Chemical. Don bought property on Ross Lake North of Beaverton, MI from his uncles Ed Mason and Art Vallender. Don and Ella were married May 18, 1940 in Bay City, MI. The newlywed couple settled on the “Breezy Shores” of Ross Lake, lived their 65 years of married life there and raised 12 children, all with the initials JAV. They were very proud that all 12 children graduated from college including 8 from Michigan State University.
Ella was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Beaverton for almost 70 years. She worked many years as secretary of the Gladwin County Farm Bureau and as a local election worker. She also volunteered as a girl’s basketball scorekeeper and in early Gladwin County recycling efforts. She was a hard worker all her life in everything she was involved in and especially in making a wonderful home for her family.
Ella enjoyed spending time with and hearing from her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren; putting jigsaw puzzles together; reading; tending her flower and vegetable gardens; cooking and baking; doing needlework and quilting; feeding and watching her birds and squirrels; and watching sports, especially the Pistons.
Ella is survived by: 10 children; James Andrew (Karen) Vallender of Freeland, MI, Judith Ann Hall of Riverdale, MI, Janice Arlene (Duane) Brege of Traverse City, MI, John Anson (Irma) Vallender of El Paso, TX, Joseph Allan Vallender of Park Ridge, IL, Joyce Alta (Tom) Broka of Beaverton, MI, Julie Agnes (Paul) Hay of Beatrice, NE, Jeffrey Austin (Nancy) Vallender of Farmington, MI, June Amy (Chuck) Wallace of Milford, ME and Joan Ava Morris of the Dominican Republic; son-in-law Bob Lang of Beaverton, MI and daughter-in-law Pattie Vallender of Beaverton, MI; 29 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren; brothers Wilber (Louise) Seltz of Rochester, MI and Roger (Karol) Seltz of Bloonts Creek, NC; sisters Clara (Jerry) Carvey of Rochester Hills, MI and Laura Smith Wrazen of Custer, MI; brother-in-law Stanley Vallender of Ventura, CA; sister-in-law Charlotte Seltz Sutherland of Gladwin MI; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Ella was predeceased by: husband Don, September 25, 2005; son Jerald Arthur Vallender; daughter Jeanne Alice Lang; son-in-law James Hall; brothers Clarence (Marie) Seltz, Vernon Seltz and Elmer (Marjorie) Seltz; sisters Virgelyn (Nat) Fial, Bertha (Speed) Raymond, Dorothea (Jack) DeLair and Wanda (Nelson) Cornell; brothers-in-law Bob Wrazen, Loyal Smith, Frank Vallender, Jack Vallender, Ed (June) Vallender and sister-in-law Carolina Vallender.
The family would like to thank Michelle and her staff of Midland's Nottingham Place for the comfort and care they have provided Ella over the past months, the staff of Midland's Seasons Adult Day Services for the many enjoyable days Ella spent there and the many doctors and other health professionals who worked diligently to improve Ella’s health and quality of life, including Dr. Vickie Chessin, of Alma, and her son-in-law Dr. James Hall. The family is especially grateful to Ella's youngest daughter Joan for her loving commitment in living with and caring for her mother at the family home for the past few years.
In accordance with Ella’s wishes cremation will take place. A memorial service is being planned for August 2011 when the family will gather over the Seltz Family Reunion weekend. The Urn with her earthly remains will reside in her beloved First Presbyterian Church in Beaverton until the memorial service. The final resting place will be with her late husband Don at their gravesite in the Beaverton Cemetery. Arrangements are entrusted to the Sisson Funeral Home in Gladwin, MI, http://www.sissonfuneralhome.com/. Personal messages of support may be offered in the Condolences tab at the Sisson Funeral Home website, sent to 557 Lang Rd, Beaverton, MI 48612 or emailed to vallenderjk@msn.com.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, P.O.B. 424, Beaverton, MI 48612.
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