Ellen L. Videtich's Obituary
Ellen L. Videtich, age 94, met her Lord and Savior on Friday, August 23, 2024. She was born on June 8, 1930, to Jermie and Sylva (Walker) Bayle in Volney, Michigan. Growing up in Volney as an only child on a large farm producing a variety of products, Ellen’s help was essential, including as a teenager when she drove teams of two to four horses to work the fields. Ellen attended a one-room school in Volney (K-8) and then Hesperia High School. Following graduation, for a year she worked at Gerber Baby Foods in Fremont doing office work and delivering the mail.
On May 7, 1949, at St. Michael Catholic Church in Brunswick, this only child married Rudy Videtich, one of 14 children! No more quiet weekends for Ellen! But “Rud” was the love of her life, and they enjoyed almost 74 years together. On their wedding day they moved to a two-room house in Muskegon. As their family grew, they added on to the house three times and added a garage. Ellen lived in that house for over 75 years. Ellen was a longtime communicant of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. She loved the outdoors and had a huge flower garden as well as a vegetable garden. She even enjoyed mowing the lawn with her “tractor.” She also planted many trees at her beloved “East Place”, which had been part of the family farm. Ellen enjoyed crocheting, crossword puzzles, genealogy, feeding the birds, and taking photographs, which she actually labeled and put in numerous albums! Ellen also loved seeing the U.S.A. In her later years she counted 33 trips she had taken in her adult life, the last 14 of which were mother-daughter trips. The last 12 of those required that she fly, which she bravely did starting at the age of 65! Ellen was an excellent cook and was especially known for her fried chicken, potato salad, and pies. Every year she also canned hundreds of jars of fruits and vegetables. Finally, in the last two years of her life, Ellen enjoyed daily rides with her son, Jeff.
She is survived by her five children, Wayne Videtich (Sue Loy), Greg (Ann) Videtich, Patricia Videtich, Paul Videtich (Karen Newmyer) and Jeff Videtich; grandchildren, Rita (Keith) Messing, Teresa (Tim McCurdy) Young, Ryan (Annoesjka Soler) Videtich, Chad (Jessica) Videtich, John (Laura) Videtich, Ben (Kaile) Videtich and Phil (Kayla) Videtich; 16 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Dorothy (Videtich) Patelski; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rudy Videtich; special cousin, Elaine (Bayle) Lockwood; many brothers and sisters-in-law; three special dogs, Chip, Lady, and Missy; and a special cat, Simon.
VISITATION will be Wednesday, August 28, 2024, from 4:00 PM- 6:00 PM at the Sytsema Chapel of Sytsema Funeral and Cremation Services, 737 E. Apple Ave., Muskegon, MI 49442. The family thanks the staff at Pinewood and at Harbor Hospice for the care Ellen received the last few days of her life. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Please share memories with the family at www.sytsemafh.com.
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