Edith Close

Edith Olach Close passed away on October 7, 2017. She was born on March 5, 1922 in Charlevoix to the late Edward and Marie (Prekale) Olach, one of seven children. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and graduated from Charlevoix High School in 1940.

After a course in accounting, and in the years after World War II, she was employed by the US Government working in the office of Price Administration also known as OPA. She returned to Charlevoix after being recruited by Ralph Hamilton to work for the Highway Department and Charlevoix County Road Commission. In 1949 she married Everett Stenman then living in Cadillac Michigan and Milwaukee Wisconsin. After returning to Charlevoix in 1960 with her daughter she was employed by a GM dealership doing accounting. She also had a small accounting and income tax business. She was a Girl Scout leader in Charlevoix for many years. While living in Cadillac she was a Brownie Scout leader and was greatly admired by her big and little scouts.

She was a life member of St. Mary’s Alter Society and the Charlevoix Area Garden Club and was their president in 1974. She also owned a ladies dress shop which she called the “Carriage Wheel” until her marriage to Robert Close in 1973. They enjoyed 35 wonderful years until Robert’s death in 2003. Their time was spent between homes in Charlevoix and at Platte Lake. Both enjoyed boating, skiing, biking and golfing. They were long time members of Petoskey Bay View Country Club, Crystal Downs Country Club and Charlevoix Country Club. She cherished her grandsons and the many weeks they spent at Platte Lake together.  Her family always came first and was very important to her as was her Catholic faith. She was very active in her church including taking care of the flowers for the alters every week for many years. She was a firm believer of early christian education for every Catholic child and very adamant that every child should become a good reader and have access to a well-stocked library, which she and her husband helped fund and stock with books in the late 80's at St. Mary's school.

Edith is survived by her daughter, Deb (Rob) Vandermolen of Grand Rapids, grandsons, Sean (Meghann) Evans, Colin Vandermolen, great grandchildren, Zoe and Sam Evans, nieces and nephews, Diana (Dick) Enga, Cyndi MacDonald, Denise (Bill) Damore, Michele and Jodi Laurent, Jeanie Olach, Sheila Olach, Theresa Trevarrow, Jeanette Janota, Susan (Dom) Biunno, Debbie (Bill) Licht, Dori Erber, David (Trisha) Olach, Darren (Laura) Olach, Peter Olach and many great nieces and nephews. Along with her cherished “Coco”.

She was preceded in death by her husband Robert, her parents, brothers, Emil, Clem, Hubert, Vince, sisters, Olga and Dorothy, nephews, Edward and Frank Olach and loving sisters-in-law, Patricia Olach, Marie Olach and Maria Olach.

Funeral Mass will be held at 12:00 Noon on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlevoix with Fr. Peter Wigton officiating. Burial will take place in the family plot at St. Mary’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Mary’s Catholic School Library Fund.

Arrangements are being handled by the Winchester Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. Online guestbook at www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.