May Sziede

May Jewel Sziede, age 90, of Marcellus, MI passed away Monday, February 6, 2017.

May was born May 12, 1926, in Kokomo, IN, the daughter of Oather Preston and Lizzie Alice (Wise) Owen. She was welcomed home by siblings Louise, Lorene, and Oather Jr. Later, a little brother Robert was born. The family moved several times before settling in Three Rivers, MI, where May graduated from high school in 1945. During high school she worked at Warner’s Dry Cleaners and Daugherty’s Bakery. She then moved to Kalamazoo and worked as a telephone operator for Michigan Bell saying “your number please”.

On January 11, 1948, May married Allan Bertrand Sziede. They lived their entire lives and raised their family on Little Cedar Lake, Marcellus, also known as “Sziedeville”. Allan was employed by Eaton Corporation and May worked at Latex in Schoolcraft, then drove bus for Marcellus Schools; however, being a homemaker was her number one priority. Together they were blessed with four children.

May and Al were enthusiastic about music. May could play the piano, organ, accordion and guitar, all by ear. She always had a tune in her head and a dance in her step. Al played steel guitar and together they filled their home with music by having many jam sessions with other musicians from Marcellus. She followed his band and enjoyed socializing and dancing with everyone. Other hobbies included bowling, gardening, canning, baking wedding cakes, knitting, crocheting, making crafts, sewing, and later in life playing computer games and putting puzzles together. For years she and Al hosted weekend-long family reunions. She was a dedicated wife and mother and loved her family very much

In retirement, May and Al spent five winters together in Mission, Texas. They were accompanied by many friends and neighbors from Marcellus and made many new “Winter Texan” friends. Al passed away in Mission on February 2, 1991. May continued her winter travels to her mobile home there for the next 24 years until she was no longer able. Even then she never complained, living life with humor and zest.

May was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her sisters and their husbands, Louise (Duane) Jacobs, Lorene (Victor) Beckle, and brother Oather Owen, Jr “Junior”, brother-in-law Arden Sziede and sister-in-law Beverly Sziede.

She is survived by her children Nancy (Phil) Smoker, David (Pat) Sziede, Alison (Larry) Smeltzer, and Brian (Natalie) Sziede; grandchildren Darryl Warner (Deb Clark), Becky (Todd) Borger, Halee (Jeff) Surach, Kara (Thomas) Stout, Alanna (Caleb) Stout, Garrett (Ali) Smeltzer, Hilary Sziede (Russell Smith), 15 great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, 9 step grandchildren, and many step great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her brother and sister-in-law Robert (Emogene) Owen, sister-in-law Alberta “Butch” Owen, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Jack (Fran) Sziede, and many, many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 4-7 pm Friday, February 10, 2017, in the Mater-Ralston Funeral Home in Marcellus.

A memorial service will be held at 11 am Saturday February 11, 2017, at Mater-Ralston with Pastor Andrew Jacobs officiating. Burial of cremains will be in Bly Cemetery in Marcellus. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Marcellus Schools Band program or the Marcellus VFW Post 4054 general fund.

Please leave a memory of May at www.materralstonfuneralhome.com . Memories will be cherished as she will be dearly missed.