Agnes Lillian Ravanelli

APPLETON, Wis. - Agnes Lillian Ravanelli, 88, of Appleton, Wis., formerly of Sanders Road, Ramsay, Mich., passed away Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, at Willow Lane Assisted Living in Appleton.

In the last couple of years she had to leave her long-time home, attend to her husband of over 60 years as his health failed and endure the frustrations of her own physical and mental decline. Her spirit has now been freed.

Agnes was born on April 27, 1927, in Bessemer Mich., a daughter of Patrick and Agnes Sanders.

Agnes was a lifelong resident of the Ramsay/Bessemer area. Even after her many decades living in the area, she still saw beauty in all of its trees and bluffs.

On July 12, 1952, in Ramsay, Agnes was united in marriage to Mario John Ravanelli, also a lifelong resident of the area. They were blessed with four children.

Agnes devoted her life to her family. Soon after she married, Agnes started her biggest hobby, having babies and raising children. She sewed, cooked, baked and made a modest house very functional and warm. Family albums display pictures of her girls in matching pinafore dresses, Halloween cakes she had crafted for school activities, Christmas trees decorated with her signature tinsel and many of her children's birthday celebrations. Of course, as the years progressed, grandchildren were eagerly anticipated and much enjoyed.

Agnes found pleasure in simple things such as stoking the furnace on a cold winter morning, eating garden tomatoes, watching her hummingbirds and chickadees, making special meals of boiled dinner, raviolis or pasties, arranging cut pussy willows and flowers, saying her rosary and most definitely making sure her husband was content.

Agnes was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Wakefield, Mich.

Agnes is survived by four children: Pat (Roy) Modjewski, High Point, N.C., Priscilla Ravanelli (Alan) Hale, Rochester, Minn., Pamela Blough, Appleton, and Nicholas (Nancy) Ravanelli, Sayner; her son-in-law, Jon Blough, Owatonna, Minn .; five grandchildren, Craig (Meredith) Modjewski, Amanda and Christopher Blough, and Alyssa and Nicole Ravanelli; a great-grandson, Riley Modjewski; a sister-in-law and several nieces and nephews.

Agnes was preceded in death by her husband, parents, siblings and their spouses: Dorothy Crow, Delores (Ray) Crenna, and Donald (Eileen) Sanders.

Enjoy a lunch with your children or grandchildren as a memorial to Agnes.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Oct. 3, at noon, preceded by visitation at 11 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Wakefield, with the Rev. Antony Lukka, celebrant. Also in attendence will be the Immaculate Conception Women's Guild Honor Guide.

Rite of Committal and interment will take place at Hillcrest Cemetery, Bessemer.

Lunch will be served at the church hall following the cemetery service.

Arrangements are under the direction of Jerald Rocco, owner-manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield. Online condolences may be made at lakesidememorialchapel.com.