Genevieve H. "Gen" Reinhold's Obituary
Mrs. Genevieve Helen Reinhold, age 82, passed away Tuesday morning, May
23, 2006. She was born March 2, 1924 in Muskegon to Mary and Stephen
Drabina of Mooreland Township, Michigan and had resided in Mooreland
Township and Muskegon all her life. Mrs. Reinhold graduated from
Ravenna High School and married Carl Fritz (Walter) Reinhold on July
31, 1948. From 1949 until 1961, Mr. and Mrs. Reinhold became the
parents of eight children. Mr. Reinhold passed away in 1972. Over thirty years of raising children, Mrs. Reinhold was involved in numerous support activities with Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Junior
Catholic Daughters of America, Girl Scouts, and fundraisers for the
Muskegon Catholic Central Band. A good education for her children
always was a high priority for Mrs. Reinhold. She worked hard to make
ends meet so she could send her children to St. Michael's Catholic
School and to Muskegon Catholic Central. Her children were graduates
of Michigan State University, George Washington University, Georgetown
University, Regis University, Devrie Institute of Technology, Arizona
State University, University of Maryland, Muskegon Business College,
and Associated Builders & Contractors. In the early years, Mrs. Reinhold and the late Mr. Reinhold, worked hard to clothe, feed, and shelter their eight children.
There wasn't a lot of money. Mrs. Reinhold tended her beloved large garden to make
ends meet; she canned fruits, vegetables and even meats and fish. She
made weekly trips to day-old bread stores and reluctantly accepted
assistance of food and clothing when times were tough on behalf of her
children. The tiny house Mrs. Reinhold lived in until her death was the
same house in which she raised all her children. The house was
originally a two bedroom home in which she and her late husband did a
modest remodel in the attic in which the children could sleep.
Anyone who knew Mrs. Reinhold knew she was a woman of compassion.
There is not a person in this world whom she wouldn't help if they
needed it. With her heart of gold, her children always came first.
Even when her children were exploring the world and sent to wars, each
of them would receive care packages filled with treats from home. Her
packages have gone to Senegal and the Gambia, Switzerland, Tennessee,
Colorado, the People's Republic of China, Pennsylvania, Vietnam,
England, Washington, DC, Georgia, New York and on and on.
Mrs. Reinhold lived her life with kindness, compassion, and devotion to
those around her - family, friends, and neighbors. Using their
mother's giving nature as a model, her children have grown up to be
successful, contributing individuals. They are inventors, educators,
doctors, skilled workers, managers, etc. All five daughters are
wonderful mothers. All three sons are wonderful fathers. This is her
greatest legacy. Mrs. Reinhold was a passionate and tireless member of St. Thomas
Catholic Church. She cared for the altar flowers with love,
creativity, and tenderness for many years. She served as president of
the altar society as well. Over her lifetime she worked at Sealed
Power Corp., Muskegon Paper Mill, and MOKA. She lovingly cooked for
the Christian Brothers of Muskegon Catholic Central and she was an
Amway Distributor. Mrs. Reinhold's SURVIVORS include her children Ronald (Laura) Reinhold of Traverse City, Raymond (Rosemary) Reinhold of Muskegon, Nancy
(James) Spillane of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Peggy (Daniel)
Vanderlinde of Ravenna, Carla (Harry) VonThaden of Steamboat Springs,
Colorado, Jayne (Joseph) Cauthen of Pegram, Tennessee, Dr. Mary (Dr.
Ahmad) Amir of San Luis Obispo, California, and John (Debra) Reinhold
of Holton: and her sister, Mrs. Eleanor Hoffman of Kentwood. She was
preceded in death by her husband Carl Fritz (Walter) Reinhold, her
brother, Mitch Drabina, an infant brother, Joseph Drabina, her parents,
Mary and Stephen Drabina. Mrs. Reinhold was the proud grandmother of 28 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.THE MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL will be celebrated 10:00 AM Friday at St. Thomas Catholic Church with the Rev. Fr. Ronald Schneider as celebrant and the Rev. Fr. Michael Olson and the Rev. Fr. Bart Okagbue as concelebrants. Burial will be in St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Ravenna, MI. VISITATION will be from 6-8 PM Thursday at St. Thomas Catholic Church with a scripture service celebrated by Fr. Phil Witkowski at 7:30 PM. There will also be visitation one hour prior to the service on Friday. MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS to the Knights of Columbus Fr. Rudy & Fr. Clem Council #13035 St. Thomas Catholic Church to the Genevieve Reinhold Memorial Fund will be appreciated. Share memories with the family at their On-line Guest Book at www.sytsemafh.com Arrangements by
Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc.
737 Apple Ave.
(231) 726-5210
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