Obituary: Ethel Lorraine Perna

Ethel Lorraine Perna
Lifelong resident of Hesperia, Mich.

Age 92, died Dec. 10, 2012 at Jackson County Medical Care. She was born Aug. 29, 1920 in Hesperia, Mich., the daughter of William Lee and Margaret Esther (Johnson) Hunt.

She moved to Chelsea to live with her daughter in 2007, and moved to Jackson in 2010. Ms. Perna was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Hesperia, and was part of the ladies group at church. She worked at Howmet-Misco in Whitehall, Mich. Ethel and Steve owned a farm, and she was a 4-H leader, teaching cooking, sewing, canning, as well as arts and crafts.

On April 18, 1942, she married Steve John Perna, and he preceded her in death on July 11, 1971. Survivors include her daughter, Linda Perna; son-in-law, Dick Melton of Traverse City; five grandsons, Jeremy, Joshua, Justin, Jared, and Judson Melton; and nine great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Susan Kay Melton in 2002, grandson, Jason Brent Melton in 1991; and her brothers, Harold, Elvis “Buck” and Donald Hunt.    

A memorial service will be held in the Spring at Hunt Family Chapel, Hesperia, Mich. Burial will follow at West Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Arrangements by Cole Funeral Chapel in Chelsea.