Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Ghiardi, Lois February 18, 2012 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com March 25, 2015, 9:34 pm Portland Review - Feb. 26, 2012 Portland- Mildred Lois Ghiardi, 62, of Lake Havasu, Arizona was welcomed into Heaven on Saturday February 18, 2012. She was surrounded by and filled with love when she passed away at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. In May of 2011, Lois was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AMI) and battled her cancer to the very end. Lois was born on June 20, 1949 in Negaunee, Michigan to August and Hannah (Heikkenen) Korvela. She was the youngest of four children; June Peterson, Claude (Nancy) Korvela, and Anita (Ron) Battjes. She grew up in Palmer, Michigan and attended Negaunee High School. When she was 16 years old whe met her future husband Joseph Ghiardi. She graduated from Negaunee High School in 1967 and married Joe in Negaunee on August 30, 1969. Lois and Joe raised 2 children, Joe and Gena in Portland, Michigan. Lois worked for 17 years at Digital Equipment Corporation as logistics coordinator. At Digital she made many live-long friends. She also worked as an administrative assistant for the Portland High School guidance councilor's office, and at the Michigan Golf Club Owner's Association prior to her retirement in 2008. In retirement Lois and Joe have lived in Petoskey and Michigamme, Michigan and Lake Havasu, Arizona. Lois was an amazing host to many friends and family members wherever she and Joe lived. Her ability to plan and prepare means was extraordinary. She also had a knack for determining ingredients in foods prepared at restaurants and copying them only to have them turn out better than the original. Lois was a faithful Christian. She was educated spiritually in the Lutheran Faith and she was passionate about charity work. Lois and Joe would work tirelessly each year as kitchen volunteers for the General Motors Chassis Team annual Christmas Charity Event. Lois is survived by her husband, Joseph Ghiardi of Lake Havasu, Arizona, her son, Joseph (Jeanne) Ghiardi of Eaton Rapids, Michigan and daughter Gena (Pete) Vitale of Macomb Township, Michigan. She will be missed dearly by her 5 grandchildren; Tara Banghart, Evan Ghiardi, Joey Ghiardi, Dominic Ghiardi and Eleanora Vitale. Also surviving Lois are her siblings; June Peterson of Negaunee Township, Michigan, Claude (Nancy) Korvela of Republic, Michigan, and Anita (Ron) Battjes of Fowlerville, Michigan. She was dearly loved by her in- laws, Christine (Michael) Maino and James (Shirley) Ghiardi as well as numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. In Heaven, she will join those that have passed before her; her parents, August and Hannah Korvela; her mother and father in law, Peter and Eleanor Ghiardi, her brother in-law Kenneth Peterson, her nephew Dean Korvela, and dear friend Vicki Lawless. A celebration of Lois' life will occur in Portland, Michigan on Saturday March 3, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel Bar and Grille (7888 E. Grand River Ave., Portland, Michigan 48875). In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to the National Bone Marrow Donor program in honor of Lois Ghiardi by visiting the following web page: http://www.bethematchfoundation.org/site/TR/Events/Memorials? pxfid=14092&fr_id+1760&pg++fund. In her battle with leukemia, Lois received a bone marrow transplant. So he was fortunate enough to have a donor match. The family would like to honor the anonymous donor that gave of himself to give Lois a chance to beat cancer. Although her stem cell transplant was unsuccessful, the family appreciates the selfless act of the donor. Condolences may be expressed online at www.koskeyfuneralhome.com. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/g/ghiardi30258nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 4.2 Kb