Amy Lindenbaum's Obituary
Amy Jean (Woodard) Lindenbaum, 48, wife of Jon Lindenbaum passed peacefully Friday evening January 20, 2012 at her parents’ home with her closest family members and lifelong friend by her side, she left us with her wonderful smile on her face. Amy was born in Muskegon Michigan on October 3, 1963 to Robert and Marilyn (Smith) Woodard. She grew up on Palmer Avenue in the house her Great Grandfather built and was a native “Lakesider”. Amy graduated from Muskegon High School in 1981 and was proud to be a Big Red. Amy attended Muskegon Community College and then became a Flight Attendant for American Airlines, based in Chicago, IL. Jon and Amy were married in 1990 and lived and worked in Grand Rapids, MI. Amy was employed by ITT Educational Services in Marketing before leaving to become a full time Mother in 1992. Amy’s passion for life was evident in the way she approached Motherhood. She lovingly nurtured and taught her children the most important of life’s lessons and always had an “adventure” planned for them whether it was art lessons in the back yard or a special picnic and hike in the State Park. After the children were in secondary school, Amy returned to her education and completed her Bachelors of Arts Degree with honors and received her Elementary Education Certification from Grand Valley State University in 2007. Amy worked for the Reeths-Puffer School System and taught both 1st and 4th Grades at Reeths-Puffer and McMillian Elementary schools. Amy loved her profession and continued to work every day despite her illness. Amy had the unique distinction of being the Great Maternal Grand Daughter of the late Hiram H. Puffer, one of the founders of Reeths-Puffer Schools. Amy loved to travel with her family to experience new places and people, over the years her favorite trips included her family vacation out West in 2005 (11 States in 15 days) and most recently a cruise through Glacier Bay in Alaska and the Holidays spent in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Above all, Amy loved life and lived it to the fullest for her family and her close group of friends. Her “girls” were always a part of her life and she shared many special times with them over the years. Amy loved great food and was a true gourmet having spent many special hours with family and friends making the most spectacular meals and appetizers. Amy is survived by her husband Jon; her two children, Emily and Nathan; parents Robert and Marilyn; sisters Christi (Cre) Woodard and Mark Ringlever, Jacki Russell, and Shannon (Smith) Locke; nephew Jacob Russell; best friend Karen Verge (Kortering); many Aunts, Uncles and cousins. She was preceded in her passing by her uncle, Sam Woodard. A time of visitation with the family will be one hour prior to the memorial service. A humanistic memorial service and an after gathering celebration of her life will be held for Amy on Thursday January 26th at 4:30PM at the Sytsema - Lee Chapel in Muskegon located at 6291 S. Harvey Street. Amy’s wishes were that in lieu of flowers, donations be considered to the “Rocket Scholar Foundation” which she helped establish for the benefit of Reeths-Puffer students or to her children’s college expense fund established at the PNC Branch Bank in North Muskegon.
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