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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

Joyce Lorine Vogel

Joyce Lorine Vogel, 97, of North Port, Florida, formerly of Punta Gorda, Florida, and Chelsea, Michigan, passed away Tuesday, May 5, 2026. She was born July 22, 1928, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the only child of Milton Bernard Hoffman and Lorine Mildred Haist Hoffman.

Joyce grew up on her family’s farm near Chelsea, began school in a one-room schoolhouse, and graduated from Chelsea High School at 16. There, Lewis “Phil” Vogel watched her play basketball and told a friend she was the girl he was going to marry. He was right. They wed July 3, 1948, and were married for 54 years. While Phil studied engineering at the University of Michigan, Joyce worked at an Ann Arbor bank and was proud to become its first woman teller. She later devoted herself to raising their daughters, Martha, Linda and Gretchen.

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Christine “Chris” Marie Gabel

Christine “Chris” Marie Gabel of Dearborn, Michigan, age 76, went to be with the Lord Monday, August 10, 2026, at her home. She was born June 29, 1950, in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Leo Mark and Frances Angeline (Yura) Roddy.

Chris graduated from Lowrey High School in Dearborn, class of 1968. She worked for AM General as an Executive Secretary for many years. When Chris was younger, she enjoyed riding motorcycles and rode all the way to Florida. She was a caring and passionate person.

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Charlotte Graves Simmons

Charlotte Graves Simmons of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of Ann Arbor, Adrian, Clinton, Ferndale, Milford, Carleton, Linden, and Highland, age 98, passed away Saturday, August 8, 2026, at the Chelsea Retirement Community. She was born November 2, 1927, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the daughter of Raymond H. & Marion Frances (Graves) Wint.

Charlotte was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and was active in various roles including pastor's wife, choir director, choir member, accompanist, UMW officer, and Sunday School teacher. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Adrian College and taught early elementary in public school for eighteen years. She also taught Suzuki piano. Charlotte was active in the Chelsea Retirement Community volunteering in the library, serving on the Residents Council, and participating in women's study groups. She and James were active in many social groups associated with the church, as well as Meals on Wheels and LEAC. Charlotte and James received the Adrian College Alumni Service Award and J.A. Baughman Church History Award. Charlotte enjoyed playing the piano, reading and knitting.

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Norma Mae Gwinn Kumbier

Norma Mae Gwinn Kumbier of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of Livonia, Caro, and Caseville, age 98, passed away Sunday, August 9, 2026, at Silver Maples of Chelsea. She was born March 8, 1928, in Caseville Township, Michigan, the daughter of Allan S. & Mae Elizabeth (Thick) Gwinn.

Norma attended Hayes School and Pigeon Rural Agricultural School, graduating in 1946. She attended Central Michigan University, Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and Western Michigan University. Norma was a member of the Sigma Tau Delta. She worked as a school librarian for Cass City Public Schools and Livonia Public Schools. She enjoyed being in book clubs. She was a board member of the Harold & Carolyn Robison Foundation for 50 years; and was active in every church she attended throughout her life: Hayes United Methodist Church in Pigeon, Caro United Methodist Church, Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church in Livonia, and more recently, St. Paul United Church of Christ in Chelsea.

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Neva Ann Bus

Neva Ann Bus of Chelsea, Michigan, age 82, passed away Sunday, July 12, 2026, at Vibrant Life Senior Living in Ypsilanti. She was born January 20, 1944, in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Andre and Neva (Ullery) Bus.

Neva attended Randolph-Macon College in Lynchburg, Virgina, and then earned her Master's Degree in Microbiology from the University of Michigan. She worked as a Microbiologist at the U of M Hospital for many years, and then part-time until she retired. Neva loved raising dogs. She and her dogs competed in Dog Flyball and she was a Dog Agility Instructor and Dog Behaviorist Consultant. She owned a cottage on Gun Lake and liked water skiing. In recent years, she looked forward to Thursday nights when she would go to Smokehouse 52. Neva was a people person and attended many churches throughout the years where she enjoyed the social times and music.

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Martha "Mardi" May Maxwell

Martha “Mardi” May Maxwell of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of Ferndale, Michigan, age 85, passed away Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at the Chelsea Retirement Community in Glazier Commons. She was born on December 14, 1940, in Xenia, Ohio, the daughter of Rev. O. Worth and Catherine May. Her great spirit of survival was exposed early in the wake of her premature birth, weighing in at under two pounds.

Mardi grew up in Beckley, West Virgina, with her parents and three younger sisters. After graduating high school, she pursued higher education, earning her bachelor's degree from Duke University, and master's degrees from Case Western before embarking upon her career in social work. Mardi was married to Rev. James “Jim” Henry Maxwell who preceded her in death on November 5, 2025. Mardi was introduced to Jim when he began his ministry as assistant to Rev. May (Mardi’s father) at Trinity Episcopal Church in Covington, Kentucky. Mardi and Jim merged their lives easily with shared dedication to serving others in need, and through love of family and their faith in God. Mardi and Jim were married in 1965 and last year they celebrated 60 years of marriage together. Over the years, Mardi moved with Jim as he was called to serve in different churches (Philadelphia, Pocono’s), until finally settling in Ferndale, Michigan (1978). Having stayed home with her children previously, in 1980, Mardi returned to work with those in need, first working with developmentally disabled residents of Wayne County, then pregnant teens (through Catholic Social Services) and finally with at-risk children at the Children’s Home of Detroit.

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Dana Jo-Mary Allan

Dana Jo-Mary Allan, of Grass Lake, Michigan, formerly of Scio Township, Michigan passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital at the age of 70. She was born on June 5, 1956, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Raymond Charles Tomshack and Laura Helen (Bergl) Dobranski.

Dana lived a life filled with kindness, compassion, and love for others. She had a caring heart and was always willing to lend a helping hand, whether checking on a neighbor, baking for a fundraiser, creating handmade items for a cause, or simply offering a smile and a listening ear. She had a special way of making people feel loved and appreciated.

After graduating high school, Dana began her career with the State of Michigan at Michigan Rehabilitation after being recruited directly out of high school. She later worked as a medical secretary in several physicians’ offices before joining the team at Waterloo Village Market. No matter where she worked, Dana was known for her warmth, dedication, and genuine care for those around her.

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