Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
OKEMOS, Mich. - Edna Eleanor Caramella, 82, of Bergland, Mich., passed away in Okemos, on Dec. 28, 2017, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's Disease.
She was born on Nov. 16, 1935, in Laird Township, the second child of the late Kenneth and Lydia (Lungi) Grant.
Edna graduated from Bergland High School and married Donald Maki in 1955 in Bergland, Mich., and they raised their four children while he was an officer with the Michigan State Police. He preceded her in death in 1987.
She married Mario Caramella, of White Pine, Mich., in 1989, and they lived in Bergland until 2016. He preceded her in death on May 31, 2017.
Edna had an adventurous spirit and loved the out of doors. She was a lifelong swimmer and once swam across Lake Gogebic with her sister, Mary, rowing alongside. She loved canoeing, biking and walking and was often seen at the lake in Bergland. When she lived downstate in her younger years, she loved swimming in and hiking on the dunes of Lake Michigan.
She enjoyed helping Mario create beautiful and plentiful gardens in their yard. She was an avid reader and played a competitive game of Scrabble. She was a lifelong learner and enjoyed long conversations with family and close friends. She was a strong, independent woman, full of knowledge, who loved her community. She loved her children and her family unconditionally.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brothers, Kenneth Grant, of Bergland, and Lloyd Grant, of Ypsilanti, Mich., daughter, Jane (Steve) Wiggin, of Newport, Maine, and grand-daughter, Sheila Taylor, of Williamston, Mich. Surviving are her children, Brenda (Ron) O'Brien, of Williamston, Mich., Don (Colleen) Maki, of Barryton, Mich., and Ann (Dennis Brown) Maki, of St. Joseph, Mich .; grandchildren Chris Taylor, Zach Love, Josh and Caitlyn Maki, Dan and Jim Wiggin; great-grandchildren Colton Love and Emma Maki; sisters Lois (Paul) Funke, Mary (Sig) Hokens, and brother, Clarence Grant; stepchildren Michael (Michelle) Caramella, Patrick Caramella, Maria Caramella, Nicole (Shawn Barnes) Caramella; grandchildren, Alissa, Anna and Emma, and Sara Caramella, Orrin Parker, Nick Dishaw, and Kailey Barnes; and many nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to the wonderful staff at Safe Haven Assisted Living and Great Lakes Hospice, who cared for Edna with love and compassion.
Cremation has taken place and a private family memorial will be held in the spring, according to Edna's wishes. The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes of Williamston, Mich., and condolences can be left online at grwilliamston.com.
