Matilda "Tilly" Hudson

Matilda A. “Tilly” Hudson, age 67, of Chelsea, MI, passed away on March 18, 2022 at Chelsea Retirement Community-Dancey House, where she had resided for the past year, moving from Woodstock, Illinois.

Tilly was born on January 6, 1955 in Rochester, PA the daughter of Jack and Ethel (Davis) Rebelo. She had worked for many years as a nurse in Woodstock, IL. She enjoyed baking, crocheting, and putting together photo albums.

She is survived by her loving partner, Tom Mattingly of Chelsea, and two sisters, Gracinda Rebelo and Susan Rebelo of California. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Those wishing to make a memorial contribution may do so to the American Diabetes Foundation. Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Georgia Keith

Georgia Keith, age 83, formerly of Bunkerhill Twp., Michigan passed away on March 19, 2022 in Mason, Michigan.

Georgia was born on March 30, 1938 in Breathitt County, Kentucky the daughter of Green and Ellafair (Hensley) Pitts. She was the last surviving sibling of ten kids. Georgia married Edward Keith on June 15, 1957 in Kentucky, and they moved to Bunkerhill where she lived for many years.

Georgia was a member of the Pentecostal Church of Bunkerhill, and that was a big part of her life. She loved gardening, tending to her vegetables and flowers. She especially loved her roses. She also loved spending time with her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her children, Michael (Brenda) Keith of Pleasant Lake, and Larry (Kim) Keith of Leslie; five grandchildren, Mike Keith, Brian (Audra) Keith, Tiffany (Di) Keith, Casey Keith, and Ashley Thorne; and numerous great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Sarah Louise Keith in 1996, and her husband, Edward in 2004.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home in Stockbridge with Pastor Jeff Howard officiating. Burial will follow at Fitchburg Cemetery in Bunkerhill Twp. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.

Contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements by Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home.

Celina T. Clark

Celina Therese Clark, of Dexter, MI, age 24, passed away on March 9, 2022. She was born on April 22, 1997 in Ann Arbor, MI to Timothy A. Clark and Aileen T. (Otterbein) Clark.

She attended Dexter High School and graduated in 2015. Celina attended Western Michigan University and graduated with honors in 2019, achieving a degree in Integrated Supply Management. Throughout high school and college, Celina participated in marching band playing the clarinet, and she also loved to play the piano. Her favorite piano piece was Clair de Lune by Debussy. Celina enjoyed cooking, painting, traveling, crafting, and outdoor hiking in the Shenandoah Mountains. She loved animals, especially her cat, Emmy, and her dog, Casey. Celina was a very ambitious person and was fond of music and stand-up comedy.

She is survived and loved by her parents, her brothers, Mitchell, Austin, and Sawyer; her grandparents, Jack and Jane Clark, and Jeannine and George Drake, Stephen Otterbein, and Sue Merrill; as well as many aunts and uncles, cousins, and friends. A private memorial service has taken place. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Salvation Army on her behalf.

Allyn M. Seitz

Allyn M. Seitz, age 97, of Chelsea, Michigan, passed away on March 15, 2022 at St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea Hospital. Allyn was born on January 20, 1925 in Detroit, Michigan the daughter of Victor and Delia (Bruning) Kohsman.

Allyn was a long-time resident of Chelsea, moving from Detroit when she was 17 years old. She graduated from Chelsea High School in 1942. Her first job was at Chrysler Proving Grounds in the 1940’s as a secretary. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in dietetics.

Allyn married Junior Raymond Seitz on June 18, 1949, and they were married for 48 years. Together they ran Seitz’s Tavern. She was a member of the Covenant Church of Chelsea, and she held many civic positions throughout her lifetime. She was a member of the Chelsea Child Study Club and Modern Mothers, the Chelsea District Library, and the Chelsea Scholarship Foundation. She was a wealth of knowledge in Chelsea history and had seen many changes within the community.

She enjoyed her cottage at North Lake, where she spent the summers with all of the kids, going between their town house, the business, and the lake. Sundays were special family days, always starting with church, then a special big meal. She loved to bake, and was known to be creative with her cooking, making do with what they had in the freezer. Each year the family would look forward to a special family vacation. Most of all, she loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She loved family gatherings and being the center of it all.

Allyn is survived by four children, Randy (Dawn) Seitz, Delayn (Gary) Haynes, Marleyn (Doug) Eder, and Chris (Mary) Seitz; son-in-law, Jeffrey Newland; nine grandchildren: Justin (Dallas) Seitz, Morgan Seitz, Emma (John) Lowry, Joshua Haynes, Torre (Chris) Kolokithas, Kehlsi Haynes, Adrian Eder, Trey Seitz, and Jordan Seitz; and three great-grandchildren, Kaid and Emerson Kolokithas, and Wyatt Lowry. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1997, her daughter, Brenda Newland Seitz in 2019, and her sister, Daisy (Donn) Widmayer.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2022, 2:00 p.m., at the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, with Rev. Anthony R. Dickerson officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery in Chelsea.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 5-7 p.m., and Saturday from 1-2 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Covenant Church of Chelsea or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home.

Thomas R. Ludwig

Please click here to see his memorial tribute

Thomas R. Ludwig, of Chelsea, MI, passed away peacefully at his home on March 13, 2022 at age 70. He was born on July 21, 1951 in Detroit, the son of James and Elsie (Soth) Ludwig. He married Janice M. (Centkowski) on September 6, 1974.

Thom was a tool and die maker by trade and worked for General Motors for over 30 years. He was a proud member of the UAW Local 735 throughout his career. He most loved spending time with family, friends, and loved ones through his many hobbies. He was an avid golfer and fisherman. When in town, he could most likely be found with his friends at one of several golf courses, especially Pierce Lake, where he volunteered time to maintain the course.

He enjoyed spending summers at his cottage on Hamlin Lake, where he and his family created many lifelong memories boating, fishing and spending days at the beach. His other passions took him on the road to visit his grandchildren in Ohio and Illinois. Lovingly known as “Papa” to them, he made every effort to attend each birthday, holiday, and extracurricular event possible. He was incredibly proud of the grandkids and their pursuits. He was a neighborhood favorite in Ohio, as he often visited his daughter’s home to be actively involved in their lives. His son’s wrestling pursuits as a competitor and now coach brought him across the country all winter long. He was an avid enthusiast of the sport, especially the NIU Huskies where his son coaches. He would follow the team closely all season long making treks across the country to support. He made many close friendships through the sport and was a fixture among the Huskie faithful.

Thom is survived by his wife, Janice, two children, Ryan (Jolene) Ludwig, and Andrea (Brian) LaFreniere; four grandchildren, Hudson and Harper Ludwig, and Andon and Gracie LaFreniere; his siblings, Larry (Marilyn) Martin, Pat (Howard) Krausman, Jerry (Diane) Ludwig, and Diane (Duane) Scholl. He was preceded in death by his brother, Jimmy Ludwig, and his sister, Judy Sieloff.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 20, 2022 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea, MI.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, March 21, 2022, 11:00 a.m., at St. Mary Catholic Church with V. Rev. Dr. William J. Canon Turner officiating.

In memory of Thom, memorial contributions may be made to the Hamlin Lake Preservation Society (HLPS), P.O. Box 178, Ludington, MI 49431.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home.

Please click here to view his Mass

Thomas E. Caplis

Thomas Caplis, of Sylvan Township, Michigan, age 75, passed away on March 5, 2022 at Silver Maples of Chelsea. He was born on December 15, 1946 in Dearborn, the son of Edward and Kathleen (Dwyer) Caplis of Wayne.

Tom served in the United States Army, achieving the rank of captain, during the Vietnam War and later worked for Ford Motor Company as a Quality Control Engineer. Upon retirement, he worked as zoning administrator for Sylvan and Lima Townships. He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Chelsea and its Knights of Columbus. He served with the Washtenaw Co. Honor Guard and was a member of the Herbert J. McKune American Legion Post 31. He was an active member of the Chelsea Rod and Gun Club.

Tom is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Dawn (Stanford). Also surviving are three children, Jennifer Caplis (Dr. Mark Bortolussi) of Marshall, MI, John (Dr. Laura) Caplis of Alpena, MI, and Robert Caplis of Chelsea, MI; three grandchildren, Connor, Jack, and Claire Caplis; and his brother Timothy Caplis of Vassar, MI. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A private Mass was held at St. Mary Catholic Church. Tom was laid to rest at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers can be made to the Ronald Weiser Center for Prostate Cancer (victors.us/tomcaplis), as the medical providers at Michigan Medicine gave Tom more life and his family more memories. Contributions can also be made to St. Mary Catholic Church Religious Education as his faith sustained him during his treatment.

As Tom reminded his family with each medical report, good or bad, “we continue to march.”

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home.

James M. "Jim" Heller

James M. “Jim” Heller, age 74, of Gregory, Michigan, passed away on March 8, 2022 at his home. He was born on November 30, 1947 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the son of Neil F. and Wana M. (Prichard) Heller. After Neil’s passing, Wana later married Donald Baldus of Dexter, who was Jim’s stepfather.

Jim was raised in Dexter but spent many years in Pinckney and later Gregory. He had a long career in construction, but at his heart he was always a farmer, who felt most connected to the land and his family’s Baldus and Heller farm in Dexter, which is one of the oldest and continually operated family farms in the area.

On December 21, 1983, he married Linda S. (Adams), and she survives. Also surviving are four children, Robert Thomas of Raleigh, NC, Erik Thomas of Pinckney, Bethany (Chris) Ahern of Ypsilanti, MI, and Rachelle Philbin of Plymouth, MI; six grandchildren, Finn, Liam, Max, Sam, Axel, and Maddie; three brothers, Nick (Mary Dee) Heller of Dexter, Donald (Norma) Heller of Dexter, and Thomas (Ann Daniels) Heller of Dexter; one brother-in-law, Louis Marr of Dexter. He was preceded in death by his parents, and one sister, Barbara Marr. He was also a loving uncle and great-uncle to many nieces and nephews in the Dexter area. His family and his rescue dog, Solo, are what meant the most to him.

A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at 12:00 noon from the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

Nancy C. White

Nancy Caroline White, of Chelsea, Michigan, age 88, passed away on March 6, 2022 at the Chelsea Retirement Community. Nancy was born on January 1, 1934 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the daughter of Otto and Leona (Sautter) Eisemann.

Nancy had lived in the area her entire life. She graduated from Chelsea High School in 1951. She later worked for many years as an inspector for Industrial Tectonics Inc. in Dexter, retiring in 1996. She also volunteered at Chelsea Community Hospital for 12 years. She was involved in the Chelsea Senior Center, Meals on Wheels, enjoyed doing puzzles, bowling, and golfing, and she would often boast of her ‘hole in one’ at Willow Creek Golf Course.

Nancy married Delbert J. White on November 24, 1956 in Chelsea, and he preceded her in death in 1991. Surviving are three children, Daniel (Teresa) White of Stockbridge, Dennis (Stephanie) White of Munith, and “Sue” (Mark) Gasieski of Stockbridge; nine grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Donald White, and three brothers, Leon Eisemann, Donald Eisemann, and Willard Eisemann.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 from 5-8 p.m. at Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 10, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church with Pastor Dan Pezzica officiating. The family will receive friends at church on Thursday from 10-11 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Our Savior Lutheran Church.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home.

Dorothy I. Tarpinian

Dorothy Isgouhee Tarpinian passed peacefully on March 4, 2022 at the Chelsea Retirement Center in Chelsea, Michigan with the care and support of Grace Hospice. She was born in Detroit, Michigan on February 17, 1931, the third of four children to an immigrant family. Her parents, Arshalous Tarpinian neê Kassabian and Manuel Tarpinian, had left Turkey in 1925 and 1910, respectively, escaping the oppression of the Ottoman majority and in search of a better life in America.

Dorothy grew up speaking Armenian in the home and English outside. Dorothy graduated from Hazel Park High school. She attended Wayne State University where she earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees. She was an enthusiastic participant in the sparkling Detroit art and music scene. Dorothy remained a generous donor to the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Science Center, the Farmington Hills Public Library, Beaumont (Botsford) Commons, and the Purple Rose Theater throughout her life. She relished hosting musical events at her community, Beaumont Commons.

Dorothy lived her life with passion and gumption. She loved her career of teaching art in the Detroit Public Schools. She loved to travel. She loved cooking and backgammon. She loved to learn. Her favorite word was 'magnificent'. Her second favorite word was 'fascinating'. Our Dorothy is a magnificent example of how to live a fascinating life. Her bereft family hopes you have someone with such zest for living in your life.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her two sisters, Gloria Vanouhee Tarpinian Haynes and

Joyce Astrikh Tarpinian Ariyan. She is survived by her brother, Harry (Beverly) Tarpinian, her cousin, Haro (Carol) Roupinian, and eight nieces and nephews.

In her memory, we ask that any donations you wish to give be made to your favorite art or music charity or to Grace Hospice.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.

Robert A. Wachler

Robert A. Wachler, age 68, of Pleasant Ridge, Michigan, passed away at home on February 21, 2022. The son of Barbara and Norman Wachler, Rob was born on May 26, 1953 in Detroit, Michigan. In June of 1971 he graduated from Berkley High School and attended Swarthmore College, graduating in 1975. Afterwards he joined the United States Peace Corps. He taught English for two years in Tunisia where he met Judy Coomes. The two returned to Detroit in 1977 and married in 1978. This past December 16, they celebrated 43 years together.

Rob and Judy lived in Huntington Woods, Michigan for eleven years where their family grew with the birth of Sarah in 1981 and Amy in 1987. They moved to Pleasant Ridge in 1990 and have remained there ever since. They were active parents at the Detroit Waldorf School, Oakland Steiner School, Ferndale High School and Mercy High School and finally at Miami University (Ohio).

A grandson and son of clothiers, Rob joined the family business, Osmuns, in 1977. He continued leading the chain of seven metro-Detroit stores until 1990. At that point, the Wachler family closed the business, and Rob went to manage the men’s department at Jacobson’s in Birmingham. From there he accepted a position with the Tom James Company as a personal clothier. This last, 25-year position, afforded him the opportunity to develop and serve an ever-growing clientele who were drawn to Rob’s warmth, kindness and interest in their lives as much as they were to the high-quality product he had to offer.

Using his familiarity with the men’s clothing business as a platform, Rob launched the non-profit “Threads for Success,” in 2006. Through this organization, over 1000 high school seniors received suits, shirts, ties, as well as education in caring for their business clothing, professional use of social media and preparation for business and academic interviews. Over time, as the program expanded, many young men also received academic scholarships. Rob loved his many connections with his clients, his friends and especially with family. Spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren was a deep joy for him.

Rob is survived by his wife, Judy, his mother, Barbara of Southfield, MI, his sister, Karen of San Francisco, CA, his daughters, Sarah Philip of Columbus, OH, and Amy Wachler of Boston, MA and Amy’s fiancé, Francis Sams of Boston, MA. Rob was the delighted grandfather of three: Jack, Samantha and Miles.

The family held a private funeral in their home. A celebration of Rob’s life is planned for Memorial Day weekend 2022.

Those wishing to honor Rob's memory are invited to contribute to his non-profit, Threads for Success.