Delizia "Della" Reyes (Fontana)'s Obituary
Beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and great aunt passed away at home on January 5, 2011. Della was born March 9, 1926 to Carmelo and Vincenzia (Tourre) Fontana, and was a lifelong Muskegon resident. Della was known for her love of music. She loved singing and had a beautiful voice. During the 40’s and 50’s she was asked to sing with many local bands. The highlight of her singing career was when she was asked to sing with Lawrence Welk and Frank Yankovich at the Fruitport Pavilion. She performed with them several times when they came to town. Though she loved singing, her most treasured gift was her immediate family. This included not only her daughter’s family but also the families of her 8 nieces and nephews whom she also felt of as her children. In 1977 she came to live with her daughter and son-in-law to help raise her grandson. Living with them provided her a freedom from worry that she greatly appreciated. She used this gift wisely, pouring all of her time, love and other resources on her relatives. She was never happier then when she was cooking, visiting with, and buying gifts for others. Generous to a fault, it gave her great joy to send her daughter and son-in-law to Hawaii later in her life. Always looked on with love by her entire family, she was known simply as “Aunt Della” by all the generations. During her years of illness there were a great number of caregivers who were greatly appreciated by the family. SURVIVORS include her daughter, Judith (Frank) LeCompte of Muskegon; grandson, Chad (Jill) LeCompte of Belmont; great-grandchildren, Michael and Elena LeCompte of Belmont; nieces, Linda Mast, Nancy (Mike) Bon, Deborah (Frank) Anderson, Rebecca (Bill) Crawford; nephews, Steven (Julie) Belmarez, Robert (Rose Marie) Burns II, Charles (Sue) Burns, Portland, MI, Michael (Christi) Burns; childhood friend, Beverly Showers of Ocala, FL. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Joseph Fontana; sisters and brothers-in-law, Rose (Robert) Burns Sr., Virginia (Alfred) Panozzo, Pauline (Alfred) Belmarez; niece, Judith Ann Belmarez; nephew, Larry Mast. SERVICES will be 11:00 AM Monday at The Walburn Chapel, Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc. 1547 W. Sherman Blvd (231) 759-8565 with the Rev. Fr. Julian Reginato officiating. Burial will take place at Egelston Township Cemetery. VISITATION at the funeral home will be from 2-5 PM Sunday. You may sign the family’s online guest book at www.sytsemafh.com Contributions in memory of Mrs. Reyes may be made to Mercy VNS Hospice.
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