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We understand how difficult it is to plan funeral services, so our staff is available to help you in any way that we can.  Please call us and we will walk you through every step of planning, and we will offer choices to  make the services just right for your family.  To help you understand the process, here are some of the steps you can choose to do ahead of time:


Funeral Planning

    ☐ Fill out basic pre-arrangement information sheet.  15-20 minutes, no charge. This provides the basic information we need to write obituaries and fill out the death certificates.  It gives us some information about the type of services you want. Click here to download the Pre-Arrangement form

    ☐ Fill out funeral service information sheet.  10-15 minutes, no charge. This provides information about the funeral / memorial service you would like: who should lead it, type of music, readings, etc.  Click here to download the Funeral Service Information Sheet

    ☐ Itemize funeral goods and services.  30-60 minutes with funeral home staff, usually at the funeral home, no charge. You choose the goods and services you want, and we will create an itemized funeral bill so you can know the anticipated costs. This is an estimate only, but lets you make many of the decisions in advance, and guides us and your family as to your wishes.

    ☐ Pre-pay your funeral invoice.  15-30 minutes with funeral home staff. After itemizing the services you want (see previous choice), you may pay for the funeral in one lump sum, or in payments, and lock in the prices for your funeral bill.  This saves your family from worrying about paying for your funeral.


Memorial Planning

    ☐ Choose your cemetery marker.  30-60 minutes, cost vary greatly. You may choose the type of stone or gravemarker you want, and lay out the exact design for your stone.  You may wish to save the information until after the death, or have the stone cut and delivered.  

    ☐ Plan a memory slideshow.  30-60 minutes, $95. Choose 30-70 photos to be put into a slideshow that can be played at the visitation and/or funeral.  You may put sticky notes on back to indicate an order to the photos if you wish, or to label slides. You may choose to narrate the photos in your voice.   

    ☐ Write a letter to your loved ones.  No cost, time will vary greatly. You may write a letter to your spouse or children to be read and re-read after your death.  It could be read publicly, or just given to those you choose after your death.  We will be happy to file it with your pre-arrangement.  Please put in sealed envelope with the name of the recipient on the outside.

Recent Obituaries

Joy Renee Sexton

born July 13, 1973 in Detroit was set free from the bonds of this earthly life on Sept 10, 2025. Left to remember her amazing but shortened life are her daughter Kynze Gilbert (19), her stepson Ken D. Gilbert (25), sister Chelsea Plymale, brother Ian Kummer, nephew Paul Heck, and her parents Lorin and Joseph Kummer. She leaves behind many other caring family members and dear friends. Her last few years found her also surrounded by devoted health care workers who were essential to her well-being during her illness and disability.

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Rev. James "Jim" Henry Maxwell

Rev. James “Jim” Henry Maxwell, 86 years old, born January 25, 1939, passed away on November 5, 2025, in Chelsea, Michigan.

Born to Frank “Donald” and Letitia “Pat” Maxwell, Jim was raised in Yonkers, New York. He attended Gordon High School. A lifelong athlete, he played basketball (“infamously” once at Madison Square Gardens), and was an avid runner until his legs no longer could carry him that way. While attending Columbia University, he served as captain of the track team and completed his undergraduate studies. He also enjoyed tennis well into his 70s—still managing to win the occasional game even after adopting a cane on the court. Following college, Jim responded to a call to serve God, amending plans to go into engineering, instead completing a master’s degree in divinity at Virginia Theological Seminary. After ordination as an Episcopal priest, Jim’s first church assignment placed him in Covington, Kentucky, where he met Martha May “Mardi” Maxwell, the daughter of the Rector. She became the love of his life, and together they shared 60 years of marriage. They moved to Philadelphia in 1967, where they welcomed their three children: Stephen (1968), Timothy (1970), and Debra (1972).

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Gail Disbrow Esty

of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of New Jersey, and Florida,

beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at the age of 85. She was born August 29, 1939, in Keyport, New Jersey, the daughter of Harvey G. and Ruth (Disbrow) Hartman.

Gail was a member of Farmington/Ann Arbor Unitarian Universalist. She received her undergraduate degree from Hood College and her MSW from Wayne State University. In 1979, she was one of the first to join FirstStep, a shelter for domestic violence. She continued in private social work practice for 20 years. Gail loved to learn and explore other world religions. She and her husband loved to travel.

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Robert Joseph Beaudoin, Jr.

Robert Joseph Beaudoin, Jr. of Brighton, Michigan, formerly of Detroit, Garden City, and Chelsea, age 87, passed away Sunday, November 2, 2025, at Four Chaplains Nursing Care Center in Westland, Michigan. He was born August 15, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Robert Joseph and Ann Barbara (Hyduk) Beaudoin, Sr.

Robert served as a Master Sargent in the U.S. Army and Army Reserves, where he was a rifle instructor. He retired from Ford Motor Company as a Traffic Analyst in 1995. Robert was a master swimmer, swim coach, swim referee, and swim teacher.

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Robin Lee Boyer

Robin Lee Boyer of Chelsea, Michigan, age 69, passed away Sunday, October 26, 2025, at Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital surrounded by family. He was born April 28, 1956, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the son of Laurence Harold and Laureta Elaine (Williams) Boyer.

Robin graduated from Chelsea High School in 1974, and then from Washtenaw Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Electrical Engineering. Robin started working at the age of 17. He was a coordinator with an eye for details and was technically oriented. He built many computers and loved cutting-edge technology. Robin worked many years as a Technician Engineer at Chrysler. He wrote instructional manuals and was very proud to have been part of the Viper Project. He retired from Chrysler in 2007. Robin liked learning the history of Chelsea, and helped build the Chelsea Historical Society. He enjoyed genealogy and played a part in gathering information for Ancestry.com. Robin contributed to Mayo Clinic’s research and helped with the development of the protocol and treatment for Nephrotic Syndrome. In his retirement, he enjoyed many hobbies. Robin grew cacti and succulents and was featured in the Chelsea Newspaper for his gardens and fairy gardens. He enjoyed photography, bird watching, practicing Yoga and recently found joy in freshwater aquariums. Robin had a big heart, he loved creating things that sparked joy in others, like building swing sets and Duplo™ structures for his grandchildren.

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Barbara Jean Currence

of Chelsea, Michigan, age 76, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully at home on October 30, 2025, surrounded by her loved ones.  She was born on December 19, 1948, in Detroit, Michigan, to Orvil Raynold Anderson and Marie Alice (Delowery) Anderson. 

Barbara retired in 2002 from Chrysler Proving Grounds in Chelsea, Michigan, where she worked as an Emissions Auditor. She was an avid sports fan of the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, and any sport her four granddaughters were in. She enjoyed reading, playing cards, and loved being a grandma. 

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Oren Bruce Lovely

Oren Bruce Lovely of Dexter, Michigan, age 84, passed away Monday, October 27, 2025, at Michigan Medicine after a short illness. He was born September 2, 1941, in Grayling, Michigan, the son of Dennis Joseph and Alice Louisa (Ervin) Lovely.

Oren was a carpenter most of his life, working most recently in the Ann Arbor area. He was a member of Michigan Carpenter's Union. Oren enjoyed playing on the computer, going to casinos, and was a U of M Football fan. He would talk to anyone, often going to Meijer just to be around other people. Oren loved animals, especially his cats, and enjoyed feeding the turkey and deer.

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