Louise Jarvis

Within the heart of Louises family there are precious memories of a mother who sacrificed much and loved unconditionally. A place where fond remembrances are kept of a fun loving mother who made the most of life simply by being warm hearted and caring towards others. Generous and giving, Louise touched many lives with her welcoming spirit. She will be deeply missed by those who were fortunate to call her friend, and fondly remembered by her loving family. In the riverfront community of River Rogue, Michigan, Donald and Mildred (Montroy) Stahl welcomed the healthy birth of their baby girl, Della Louise on November 25, 1934. A largely populated area of Detroit along the southeastern edge of Michigan, her hometown once flourished with an industrial economy until the Great Depression created desperate times. With money scarce and impending war overseas, many learned to find joy in little things, like gathering around the radio or going to a picture show to relieve their minds from everyday worries. A bright light in her parents lives, little Louise offered hope and promise for the young couple as they overcame hardship during the Depression years. The third of six children, Della Louise, who always went by Louise, grew up with her siblings Dee, Russell, Pat, Edward and Carol. Louises father was employed as a laborer with the Great Lakes Steel Company after returning from WWII. Coming from a large family, Louise enjoyed times spent with her siblings and fond times during her childhood playing outdoors with them. Having shared a close relationship with her father, the two were at times known for their playful antics. One incident Louise often recalled was the time she was doing dishes in the kitchen. From the window above the sink, Louise threw a glass of water on her father and he in turn brought the garden hose in the house and sprayed her. Needless to say, their kitchen had a good cleaning that day! Louise, along with her brothers and sisters attended the local Catholic church in their neighborhood and received their early education at Lincoln Park. Once she was old enough, Louise earned extra money babysitting. While in the tenth grade, Louise left school and married Dale Jarvis on August 9, 1950 in Greenup, Kentucky. Before long, Louise was the proud and loving mother of three wonderful children, Cela, Norman and Lisa. They each brought Louise great joy, and she provided a loving and caring home for them. Fun loving, the children have great memories of great times with their mom. Although life was often difficult financially, Louise really knew how to stretch a dime. They had plenty to eat, never went without the essentials and had a nice house with horses for the kids. To her childrens advantage, Louise loved animals with the exception of mice. In fact, the mere thought of a mouse scared Louise to no end. A sight to behold was the time Louise and her sister Pat spotted a mouse in the kitchen and were found standing on the table. Another time, Louises cat proudly presented her with a mouse it had caught. In no time flat Louise was out the door running down the sidewalk while the cat ran after her with the mouse in its mouth. For many years, Louise worked at Grand Transformers, Inc. in Grand Haven, Michigan. A producer of inductive components, Louise suffered with severe carpal tunnel syndrome. Following her third surgery for the carpal tunnel, Louise was restricted physically from working there any longer. After retiring, Louise volunteered her time at North Ottawa Community Hospital and played music at local senior centers. With a love for playing euchre, great times and shared memories were enjoyed getting together with family and friends for a game or two. Her Catholic faith remained a cornerstone in Louises heart and when she was able, Louise attended St. Patricks Catholic Church in Grand Haven. A joy to be around, Louise was well liked by many. Through thick and thin, she enjoyed a close friendship with her friend Pat Pranger, and the two always counted on one another for support. She also spent much time over the years with her longtime neighbors and friends, Pat and Chuck Jacobs. It was easy to love Louise with her fun loving ways and generous heart. She had a way of making everyone feel welcome and comfortable in her company. Louise loved her family. Throughout her life Louise had the ability to touch many with her love and generosity of spirit. She leaves numerous memories for her family and friends to hold and will be truly missed and never forgotten. Mrs. Della Louise Jarvis, of Grand Haven, passed away on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at the age of 75 with her daughters by her side. She is survived by her husband, Dale; two daughters, Cela Sweeney of Ohio and Lisa Rowe of Muskegon; her son, Norman (Kathy) Jarvis of Arizona; her grandson Ky of Arizona; two sisters, Pat Miller of Livonia, Michigan and Carol Pawling of Nevada; two brothers, Russell (Ann) Stahl of Brownstown, Michigan and Edward Stahl of Virginia. She was preceded in death by her parents, and by a sister, Dee Sharkey. A private family celebration of Louises life will be held. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Alzheimer's Association or the Noah Project. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a favorite memory of Louise or to sign her online guest book. Clock Life Story-Muskegon