Grace Marie Callanan died Jun 20, 2009, at her "little house in the woods" in Excelsior Township of Kalkaska, MI. She was under the auspices of Hospice and in the presence of her daughter and caregiver, Kathleen J Callnan.
Born Jul 3, 1914, in New Baltimore, MI, she was the daughter of Edward Andrew Kleehammer and Hazel Irene Kelley.
Grace resided in Macomb and Wayne counties prior to moving to Kalkaska County in the mid 1970's. She was also a winter resident of North Fort Myers, FL, celebrating 33 years as a member of the Windmill Village manufactured home community.
Surviving are her daughters, Patricia Ann Stanley (Robert Alfred Stanley) and Kathleen Joan Callanan and sister, Sue V. Cardillo (widow of Joseph Cardillo), all of North Fort Myers.
Grace was the progenitor of three daughters, seven grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and seven great great grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were her first husband, John Michael Callanan in 1978; her third daughter, Barbara Elaine Callanan (widow of John Beyer II) in 1995; her second husband, Richard Virgil Receveur in 1998; as well as her parents and her twin brothers Edward Casimir Kleehammer and Andrew Francis Kleehammer.
She was a lifetime member of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution - the Estero Island Chapter in Florida and the Job Winslow Chapter in Traverse City.
During 2008-2009, she was the conservation chairman for the Estero Island Chapter. She was also a lifetime member of the American Legion, the Windmill Village Hobby Club, and the Windmill Village Mich-Can- Club.
Her crochet work is widely known by her friends and in 1954, she won fourth prize at the National Crochet Contest in New York City for her lace insertion, which had taken first prize at the Michigan State Fair.
She truly was a crochet artist and national treasure.
Grace was a member of St Mary of the Woods Catholic Church of Kalkaska and St Francis Xavier Catholic Church of Fort Myers.
Grace was a mother and grandmother to everybody. Those who knew her say, "I am so sad to lsoe her as a friend. She encouraged me to keep going. I loved her fighting spirit." "What a wonderful experience it has been knowing her. She is such a wonderful example of love packaged with unconditional acceptance, patience, humor, and warmth.
"Those of us in DAR loved to see Grace, visit with her and just be where she was. I knew her as a beautiful, cheerful and positive person."
Visitation for Grace will be held Wed, Jun 24, 2009, from 2 to 4 pm and from 6 to 8 pm with a rosary service at 7 pm at the Wolfe-O'Neill Funeral Home.
The funeral will be Thu, Jun 25 at 11 am at St Mary of the Woods Ctholic Church, with Father Peter Eke officiating.
Interment will be in St Mary of the Woods Catholic Cemetery.
