Elizabeth Abram

Elizabeth Abram was a woman who knew it was the little things that mattered most in life, from the birthday cards she sent her nieces and nephews, to the careful and classy attire she always wore, to the hospitality she showed her guests. She was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt and friend, who lived her life on her own terms, and led her life by example.

Elizabeth's story began on a warm summer day in 1914, in the bustling city of Grand Rapids. Those were exciting times in this country, as the airplane and especially the automobile were transforming every corner of our culture. On June 2, 1914, Joseph and Mary (Maierhauser) Abram celebrated the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Elizabeth Theresa Abram.

Elizabeth was the third of five children in the family's home on Fremont Avenue, on the city's northwest side, joining older sister Julia. A few years later her younger siblings Joseph and Mary Ann were born. Her older brother George died as an infant. Her father toiled endlessly as a bricklayer and railroad worker, while her mother cared for the home.

Elizabeth grew up in a devoutly Catholic home, and her parents instilled in their children a deep faith in the Lord, a faith she carried with her all her days. Her parents were very involved in the church, and Elizabeth and her siblings became active members, as well. Elizabeth was baptized at St. James, and received her first Holy Communion and Confirmation there, too.

Elizabeth had fond memories of visiting her maternal grandparents as a child, the Maierhausers, on their farm in Grand Haven, which was a far cry from the city life she grew up with an experience that meant much to her.

Elizabeth attended St. James Elementary School as a young girl, before heading off to Mt. Mercy Academy in Grand Rapids, which was an all-girls school. The school was attached to a convent, and the nuns instilled in Elizabeth a keen eye for little details, and for doing things the proper way.

After she graduated from Mt. Mercy in 1932, she enrolled at Lucid Business School in Grand Rapids, which was a private secretarial college for exceptional young women in those days. She went to school there for two years, and after she graduated, she found a job with the Michigan Crippled Childrens Commission. Starting as a secretary, she was later promoted to executive secretary and later, administrative assistant.

The Commission had orthopedic clinics all across the state, and Elizabeth moved to Lansing as the job required. She enjoyed the job, and was an excellent, diligent employee, and dutifully traveled all over the state, as well as to Chicago and Washington D.C.whenever necessary.

Elizabeth never married, though her social calendar was usually chock-full of family and friends. She befriended a couple named Bea and Les Hansen in Lansing, who became lifelong friends. The Hansens bought a home on Higgins Lake up north, where Elizabeth visited them often in the summertime. Elizabeth had many good friends in Lansing, and enjoyed going out to the Lansing opera or theater together, followed by dinner.

She remained very close to her whole family her entire life, and when she lived and worked in Lansing, she would return to Grand Rapids on the weekends, to help out around her sister's house, and to spend time with her nieces and nephews. She was very close to them, and very close to her sisters.

In the summertime, they would all vacation together to Northern Michigan, which was Elizabeth's favorite place on earth, and they formed so many wonderful memories up north together. Elizabeth was always the shutterbug of the group, and took so many family photos over the years.

She was very close to her nieces and nephews their whole lives, and was there for all their special occasions, and always sent them birthday cards or took them out to dinner. She adored each and every one of them, and they adored her, too.

Elizabeth retired from the MCCC in 1964, after 30 years of dedicated service. She moved in with her sister Julia, who was recently widowed, and the sisters formed a special bond over the next 40 years of being together. They traveled often (Elizabeth loved to travel), everywhere from up north on Michigan Circle Tours, to the East Coast, to the casinos and even Las Vegas.

Julia and Elizabeth were like two peas in a pod, and were such hospitable hosts when they had company, always welcoming, with no shortage of food and desserts for their guests, either!

Elizabeth had hobbies of her own, and loved to read. She also enjoyed crafts, and she and Julia did crocheting and needlepoint, which they sold at craft shows. Elizabeth was especially gifted at country painting. She painted everything; boxes, rocks, tin ware ... whatever she could find, just for fun. One person even bought a special ornament she had made, and told her it was for the White House Christmas display in Washington D.C.!

Julia sadly died in 2004, and Elizabeth's health diminished soon afterward. She was such an independent person, and never wanted to be fussed over, right up to the end. She moved to Covenant Village of the Great Lakes, to the assisted living facility. She quickly made many new friends, and became a favorite with the staff there, too. She of course had a treat ready for any visitors, whether it was ice cream or candy, ever the gracious, wonderful host she was.

Sadly, Elizabeth died on Thursday morning, May 24, 2007, at Covenant Village, at the age of 92.

Elizabeth was such an intelligent, outgoing and loving person, who loved being around people. She was a strong Catholic who was devout in her faith. She was a woman, proud of her appearance, and of her many accomplishments. She was proudest of her loving family, who remember the life she led, and the example she set. She will be fondly remembered always.

She is survived by her nieces and nephews, the Hammerlund family, Mary Lynn Trasky, Gary (Janice) Hammerlund, Gregory (Henrietta) Hammerlund, Stephen (Theresa) Hammerlund, Debra (Mark) Kukulski; the Abram family, John Abram, Rosie Majewski, James Abram, Joseph (Sue) Abram, Robert (Judy) Abram, Cathy (David) Bogardus; many great and great great nieces and nephews; her sister-in-law, Cecilia Abram; her life long friend, Bea Hansen and many friends. She was preceded in death by her beloved sisters, Julia Jagloski and Mary Ann Hammerlund, her brother Joseph Abram and her brother-in-law, Don Hammerlund. Elizabeth was a lifetime member of St. James Catholic Church where the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday morning, May 26, at 10:00 AM . Burial at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet her family at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW on Friday 6-9 PM with the rosary at 7 PM. Her family would like to thank the staff of Covenant Village of the Great Lakes for their care and compassion extended to Elizabeth especially these last few weeks. To read more about Elizabeth's life, to share your own memory of her and to sign her guest book, please visit her web page at www.lifestorynet.com