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Alice Gavenda

July 6, 1937 — May 23, 2019

Alice Gavenda

Alice Emmo Gavenda age 81, of Ithaca, MI, passed away Thursday, May 23, 2019, at Masonic Pathways, Alma, MI.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Paul Apostle Catholic Church, Ithaca, MI, on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 at 11:00 A.M., with Rev. Fr. Andrzej Boroch officiating.  Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Alma, MI. Visitation will be held on Monday, May 27, 2019 from 1:00-8:00 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, MI, with a Rosary prayed at 8:00 P.M. Visitation will also be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 from 9:30 A.M. until the time of the mass at the church.

Alice was born in Ashley, MI on July 6, 1937, the daughter of Floyd and Lucille (Strouse) Spiece. She married John Ralph Gavenda on January 15, 1955. John passed away on June 23, 1998.

Alice spent many hours out in the field working along side her husband John. She enjoyed playing cards and games at the senior center, crocheting and making quilts for family and friends. Alice enjoyed going to the family cabin in Harrison, pontoon rides, and playing bean bag toss and sequence. She was a wonderful cook, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother.

Alice was a member of the ZCBJ Lodge, Bannister, MI where she cooked for many wedding receptions, enjoyed dancing in the Czechoslovakian dance group and assisted with various lodge functions. She was a member of St. Paul Apostle Catholic Church where she was a group leader for funeral luncheons, a member of the church CCW and helped with various church functions.

She is survived by children: Bernadette and Sergio Guizzetti of Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Mary and Brad Warren of Maple Rapids, MI, Theresa Beals and Mike Galesk of St. Johns, MI, Patricia and Mike Johnson of Ithaca, MI, Julie Wolven of Maple Rapids, MI, Steven Gavenda and Diane Jammer of Ithaca, MI, Paul Gavenda of Ithaca, MI, 20 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, and 3 great great grandchildren. She is also survived by brother in law Duane Foster of Wheeler, MI, sister in law Mary Lou Spiece of St. Johns, MI and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and siblings: Elaine Maxwell, Durwood Spiece, Floyd "Roy" Spiece, Delray Spiece, Doris Secord, and Phyllis Foster.

Memorials may be made to St. Paul Apostle Catholic Church or Gratiot County Commission on Aging. Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, MI.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Alice Gavenda, please visit our flower store.

Past Services

Visitation

Monday, May 27, 2019

1:00 - 8:00 pm

Smith Family Funeral Homes - Ithaca

1333 East Center Street, Ithaca, MI 48847

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Rosary

Monday, May 27, 2019

Starts at 8:00 pm

Smith Family Funeral Homes - Ithaca

1333 East Center Street, Ithaca, MI 48847

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Visitation

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

9:30 - 11:00 am

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church

121 N. Union Street, Ithaca, MI 48847

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Mass of Christian Burial

Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Starts at 11:00 am

St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church

121 N. Union Street, Ithaca, MI 48847

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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