Obituary for Henrietta "Hetty" Alward
Henrietta ‘Hetty’ Mary Louise (Rickman) Alward, 94, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017, at Gladwin Nursing & Rehabilitation Community, where she had resided since 2009.
Hetty was born Sept. 26, 1922, in Detroit, Mich., the daughter of Max O. and Henrietta S. (Habel) Rickman. She graduated from South Lyon High School in 1940. She and Lawrence “Buck” Alward were united in marriage July 3, 1946, in Pigeon, Mich. They first resided in Pontiac, Mich., then moved to the Alward family farm in Gladwin’s Sage Township where they raised their children and resided until the time of their 50th wedding anniversary in 1996. They then moved into their first brand new home, where Hetty used her green thumb ways to bring her new landscape to life.
Much of Hetty’s resourceful culinary skill arose from her employment at DevonGables in Pontiac. That was the first of a varied and interesting range of jobs she held. Hetty served the war effort in the early 1940s as an inspector at the Ford B-24 Liberator Bomber plant at Willow Run (a “Rosie the Riveter”); was an inspector at Holly Carburetor in Clare; worked at Reid’s Corner Store, Alward Electric & Heating, the Gladwin Mill End store, Zettel’s drug store, Springwood Gardens restaurant, Brown Machine, and in her later years was a seamstress for two dressmakers.
Hetty also was an accomplished artist, who on multiple occasions exhibited her work at art festivals in Gladwin City Park and at the Gladwin County Fair, and took great pride in the ribbons she earned. Hetty painted on canvases, boards, ornaments and any other surface that piqued her fancy.
A proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Hetty was always in love with each new little one who came along. She always took great pride in the accomplishments of every one of them.
Hetty is survived by her children: Thomas (Pam) Alward of Gladwin, Lois Parsell of Hemlock, and Dianne Alward-Biery of Gladwin; grandchildren: Charity (Brent) Weston of Gladwin, Thomas Ward of Hemlock, Richard Ward of Clare, Michael (Lindsey) Biery of Anchorage, Alaska, and Brooke (Jon) Soldner of Saint Paul, Minn.; and great-grandchildren: Aaron, Bailey and Mackenzie Weston; Olivia and Cooper Ward; Grace, Amelia and Noah Ward; and Daniel Biery. She also is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Hetty was preceded in death by Buck, her husband of 64 years; her parents, two brothers, one sister, and one grandson.
Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 3 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Gladwin, with the funeral service at 11 a.m. Arrangements are being handled by Sisson Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions in Hetty’s name may be directed to Our Savior Lutheran Church, 331 W. Clendening Road, Gladwin, MI 48624, or to the Activities Center at Gladwin Nursing & Rehabilitation Community, 3270 W. Pratt Lake Road, Gladwin, MI 48624.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Sisson Funeral Home, 989-426-7751 www.sissonfuneralhome.com.
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Hetty was born Sept. 26, 1922, in Detroit, Mich., the daughter of Max O. and Henrietta S. (Habel) Rickman. She graduated from South Lyon High School in 1940. She and Lawrence “Buck” Alward were united in marriage July 3, 1946, in Pigeon, Mich. They first resided in Pontiac, Mich., then moved to the Alward family farm in Gladwin’s Sage Township where they raised their children and resided until the time of their 50th wedding anniversary in 1996. They then moved into their first brand new home, where Hetty used her green thumb ways to bring her new landscape to life.
Much of Hetty’s resourceful culinary skill arose from her employment at DevonGables in Pontiac. That was the first of a varied and interesting range of jobs she held. Hetty served the war effort in the early 1940s as an inspector at the Ford B-24 Liberator Bomber plant at Willow Run (a “Rosie the Riveter”); was an inspector at Holly Carburetor in Clare; worked at Reid’s Corner Store, Alward Electric & Heating, the Gladwin Mill End store, Zettel’s drug store, Springwood Gardens restaurant, Brown Machine, and in her later years was a seamstress for two dressmakers.
Hetty also was an accomplished artist, who on multiple occasions exhibited her work at art festivals in Gladwin City Park and at the Gladwin County Fair, and took great pride in the ribbons she earned. Hetty painted on canvases, boards, ornaments and any other surface that piqued her fancy.
A proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Hetty was always in love with each new little one who came along. She always took great pride in the accomplishments of every one of them.
Hetty is survived by her children: Thomas (Pam) Alward of Gladwin, Lois Parsell of Hemlock, and Dianne Alward-Biery of Gladwin; grandchildren: Charity (Brent) Weston of Gladwin, Thomas Ward of Hemlock, Richard Ward of Clare, Michael (Lindsey) Biery of Anchorage, Alaska, and Brooke (Jon) Soldner of Saint Paul, Minn.; and great-grandchildren: Aaron, Bailey and Mackenzie Weston; Olivia and Cooper Ward; Grace, Amelia and Noah Ward; and Daniel Biery. She also is survived by several nieces and nephews.
Hetty was preceded in death by Buck, her husband of 64 years; her parents, two brothers, one sister, and one grandson.
Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 3 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Gladwin, with the funeral service at 11 a.m. Arrangements are being handled by Sisson Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions in Hetty’s name may be directed to Our Savior Lutheran Church, 331 W. Clendening Road, Gladwin, MI 48624, or to the Activities Center at Gladwin Nursing & Rehabilitation Community, 3270 W. Pratt Lake Road, Gladwin, MI 48624.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Sisson Funeral Home, 989-426-7751 www.sissonfuneralhome.com.
Previous Events
Visitation
Friday
3
Feb
9:00 AM
- 11:00 AM
Our Savior Lutheran Church
331 W Clending Rd.
Gladwin, MI 48624
Service
Friday
3
Feb
11:00 AM
- 11:00 AM
Our Savior Lutheran Church
331 W Clending Rd.
Gladwin, MI 48624
Cemetery Details
Location
Highland Cemetery
Buzzel & Cemetry Sts.
Gladwin, MI 48624
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