Ethel Lydia Marie Apperson

APPERSON  Ethel Lydia Marie (Werschky), formerly of Swartz Creek, age 82, died in the Lord on Wednesday, December 24, 2003. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 29, 2003, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 402 S. Ballenger Hwy., Flint. Pastor Brad Yops and Pastor Steven Maske officiating. Burial at Flint Memorial Park. Ethel will lie in state at Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Rd., Swartz Creek, Michigan. Visitation will be 1-4 and 6-9 on Sunday, December 28, 2003. Contributions may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, New Life Community Lutheran Church, Heartland Hospice of Flint, or the Greater Michigan Chapter of the Alzheimers Association. Envelopes will be available at Sharp Funeral Homes. Ethel was born on Nov. 14, 1921, in Kilmanagh, Michigan, to Herbert Ernst Werschky and Marie Magdalena (Reda); but she lived in the Flint area most of her life. Her baptism was on November 27, 1921; and she was confirmed at Emanuel Lutheran Church of Flint in 1935. She graduated from Northern High School in Flint in 1940, attended General Motors Tech (GMInow Kettering University) in 1940s, was employed by Citizens Bank 1940-50, and was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. On May 20, 1950, she married Peter E. Apperson in Flint; and they lived in St. Louis, Missouri, 1950-53 and 1966-68. They had three children who are still living. Ethel loved her Lord and was a very active member at St. Paul Lutheran Church and School for decades. Among her activities there were Altar Guild, Priscilla Circle, Womens Guild, Lutheran Womens Missionary League, Dorcas Circle, Parent Teacher League, Womens Wednesday Morning Bible Study Group, Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), and Stephen Ministries. Ethel was also active in community volunteering such as Girl Scouts, McLaren Womens Auxiliary, and the Flint Institute of Music; and she contributed financially to many non-profit organizations. Ethel was a charter member of a womens social group of employees from Citizens Bank known as the Dirty Dozen Club since 1949. The Dirty Dozen friends and their families were part of her large extended family. Her skills in gourmet cooking, sewing, cross-stitching, gardening, and many other crafts were legendary; and she was never too busy to cook or sew for someone in need. She was a Martha Stewart in her own time. She is survived by her three children and their spouses: Judi Apperson-Nieman and husband John Nieman, John Apperson and wife Susan, and Ruth Apperson-Chaffee and husband Mark Chaffee. Her grandchildren are Marissa Nieman, Sarah (Apperson) Connor, Alex and Paul Chaffee, and step-grandchildren Dawn and Michelle Davis. She is also survived by her sister Eleanore Coats, nieces Sandy (Apperson) Mutert and husband Walter, JoAnn Apperson, Sharon (Coats) Brown and husband Cal, Susan (Coats) Young and husband Jack; and nephews Richard and Steve Coats. There are also numerous cousins and friends. Ethel was preceded in death by her five-year-old brother Gerhardt Ernest Werschky Sonny in 1931, mother in 1965, father in 1971, step-mother Irma (Klee) Werschky in 1988, and husband, Peter in 1989. Many thanks to Peggy Davis and her staff at Riverview Home in Flushing, Heartland Hospice of Flint (Dr. Shafi Ahmed, nurses, aides, chaplain, and staff), the many doctors and nurses who cared for her at McLaren Hospital, family, and special friends (from church, neighborhood, childhood, her gourmet club, and Dirty Dozen) who never forgot her in the past few years of her illness. The family also wants to thank Pastor Bradley Yops from New Life Community Lutheran Church and Pastors Kilponen, Maske, and Etzel from St. Paul Lutheran Church for spiritually ministering to Ethel during her long illness. The last name Ethel could speak and relate to was Jesus, and she was not afraid to die a physical death on earth because she knew she had eternal life in Heaven.