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Lilian M. Curto
Former City of Grosse Pointe resident Lilian Curto, 96, died of congestive heart failure on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2002, at the Henry Ford Village in Dearborn.
Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Mrs. Curto received a teaching degree from what is now Eastern Michigan University. She taught at the Cadieux School in Grosse Pointe and at the Liggett School in Detroit's Indian Village historical district. In later years, she was a substitute teacher in Grosse Pointe.
During World War II, she was in charge of a day care center for working moms.
Throughout her 58 years in the Grosse Pointe area, Mrs. Curto and her husband, the late James Curto, were active at St. Philomena Catholic Church in Detroit and later at St. Paul Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Farms. She served as president of the St. Paul's 39'ers retirees group. She was also proud of being a very dedicated volunteer at Bon Secours Hospital for many years.
When asked the secret of her successful 65-year marriage, Mrs. Curto replied, "Jim makes the big decisions and I make all the small ones."
While living at the Henry Ford Village, she was featured in several television advertisements for the establishment. She was also well known to her many friends there for her sense of humor, her piano playing and her willingness to play cards, "anytime, any game."
Her son Fred Curto commented, "Mom's life and death seem like a good example of the power of prayer."
Mrs. Curto is survived by her son, Fred (Joan) Curto, three grandsons and five great-grandsons. She was also predeceased by her brother and two sisters.
Arrangements were handled by the Verheyden Funeral Home in Grosse Pointe Park. Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 9, at 10 a.m., at the Henry Ford Village Chapel, 15101 Ford Road in Dearborn, followed by an 11 a.m. funeral Mass. Burial is private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Henry Ford Village Benevolent Fund, 15101 Ford Rd., Dearborn, MI 48126 or the Cottage Hospital Auxiliary, 159 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236.
Joseph H. Dimond
Grosse Pointe Woods resident Joseph H. Dimond, 81, died after a long illness on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2002, at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit.
Born in Chicago, Ill., Mr. Dimond graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor of science degree in finance in 1942. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1942 to 1946, achieving the rank of Captain.
Mr. Dimond began his career in 1945, with the Standard Accident Insurance Co. He later worked for the Byrnes-McCaffrey Insurance Agency, which his father helped to found, and Frank B. Hall & Co., where he was a senior vice president of marketing. Following his retirement in 1989, he served as a consultant.
His professional affiliations include membership in the Metropolitan Detroit Insurance Club. He was a past president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Greater Detroit. As a member of the Independent Insurance Agents of Michigan, he served as president and chairman of both the Legislative Committee and a committee working with Professional Insurance Agents for possible merger. The IIAM honored him with its President's Award in 1989 and its Hildebrand Award in 1990. In addition, he served on the Michigan Insurance Commissioner's Advisory Committee and was a witness at the U. S. Senate Banking Committee Hearings as a representative of the National Association of Brokers and Agents.
Mr. Dimond was active in the Detroit Rotary Foundation, served as president of the Detroit Rotary Club in 1964 and received the Rotarian of the Year award in 1989.
From 1975 to 1989, he was a director at the Detroit Athletic Club where he also served as past chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee, a member of the Finance Committee, president of the 25-Year Bowlers, and a member of the Beavers. In addition, he served as the President of the Lochmoor Club in 1980.
Before marrying his wife Sharon, Mr. Dimond told her, "I hunt, fish, play golf and bowlÑthat isn't going to change!" He made fishing rods, planned hunting and fishing trips to Alaska, Mitchell's Bay and various hunt clubs devoted to pheasant shooting including Manitoulin Island, Brace Creek Lodge and the Hanna Bay Goose Camp. He also planned many wild game dinners following these outings.
Along with his wife, Mr. Dimond is survived by his son Tom of St. Clair Shores; his daughters Margy and Mary Ann, of Chicago, Ill. and Cathy of Houston, Tx. and his grandchildren Brad, Kelly, Meghan, Jennifer and Laura. He was the beloved stepfather of Dennis, Janice and Marlene and step grandfather of six grandchildren.
A memorial gathering will be held on Friday, March 8, from 2 to 9 p.m., at A. H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack in Grosse Pointe Woods. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 9, at 11 a.m., at Lake Shore Presbyterian Church, 27801 Jefferson in St. Clair Shores. Interment will be at Cadillac Memorial Gardens in Clinton Township.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lake Shore Presbyterian Church, 27801 Jefferson, St. Clair Shores, MI 48081 or the charity of your choice.
Fran Garthwaite
Fran Garthwaite, 69, dear wife of Walter C. Garthwaite, died of cancer on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2002, at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit.
The former Grosse Pointe Park resident, who was most recently living in St. Clair Shores, was born in Homestead, Pa., to the late Stella and Daniel O'Donnell. She graduated from Homestead High School.
Mrs. Garthwaite's interests included bridge, golf and bowling.
Along with her husband, she is survived by her sons, David Garthwaite, Patrick (Gayle) Garthwaite, Thomas (Betsy) Garthwaite and Michael Garthwaite; her daughters Elizabeth (Al) DeGrandis; her stepdaughter Vikki Kerby; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; her sisters Eileen (Bill) Checchio, Anne (Bill) O'Connor and Mary (Art) Tatangelo and her mother-in-law Hattie Garthwaite. She was predeceased by her brother and sister-in-law Howard and Lois O'Donnell; her sister Tessie Dopler and her father-in-law Paul Garthwaite.
Arrangements were handled by the Verheyden Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe Park. A funeral Mass was celebrated on March 1, at St. Clare of Montefalco Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Park. Interment is at Resurrection cemetery in Clinton Township.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Adele Hage
Adele Hage, 89, died on Friday, Feb. 22, 2002, at Bon Secours Hospital in Grosse Pointe.
A Harper Woods resident, Mrs. Hage was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
She was a longtime Sears employee and a member of the Hasroun Club and the Seniors Club of Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church. She also loved to cook.
"Her family was everything to her and we were all blessed to have had her in our lives for so long," said her granddaughter Jennifer Perrino.
Mrs. Hage is survived by her sons Phil (Martha) Hage and Pete (Julie) Hage; her grandchildren Alexander, Kimberly, Bryan, Jennifer, Heather, Angela, Jeffrey and Jason and her great-grandchildren Christian and Ryan. She was predeceased by her husband Deeb Hage.
A funeral service was held on Feb. 25, at A. H. Peters Funeral Home in Grosse Pointe Woods. Interment is at Mount Olivet cemetery in Detroit.
Contributions in her memory may be made to Pregnancy Aid, Inc., 18495 Mack Ave., Detroit, MI 48236 or the Detroit Chapter of the Michigan Humane Society, 7401 Chrysler Expressway, Detroit, MI 48211.
Doris M. Homuth
Doris M. Homuth, 77, died on Thursday, Feb. 21, 2002, at her home in Fort Myers, Fla.
Mrs. Homuth was born in Grand Rapids and lived in Grosse Pointe Woods for 25 years. She graduated from Michigan State College in 1946.
A homemaker, Mrs. Homuth spent her spare time boating, sewing and playing cards. She was a member of the Grosse Pointe Woods Boat Club.
She is survived by her sons Grant R. Homuth, Scott R. Homuth and Mark R. Homuth and four grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Chester R. Homuth and her brother Robert B. Canfield.
A memorial service was held on Feb. 26, at the Phil Kaiser Funeral Home in Fort Myers, Fla.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Susan L. Kodan
Grosse Pointe Woods native Susan Loretta Kodan, loving daughter of Clara and the late Henry Kodan, died suddenly on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002, in Detroit.
Ms. Kodan is survived by her brother Henry J. (Katie) Kodan; her sister Gerilyn (Robert) Dillon and Lori Kodan; her nephew Daniel and her nieces Danielle, Kelly, Jamie and Amber.
A memorial Mass was held on Feb. 15, at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Woods. Burial was private.
Gust Nichols
Gust Nichols, who died on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2002, at his Grosse Pointe Woods home, lived up to his reputation of being an ingenious engineer as well as a very warm and loving father, husband and friend to people of all ages.
Born and raised in Detroit, Mr. Nichols graduated from Southeastern High School. After serving in the United States Navy, he attended Wayne State University and graduated from the Detroit Institute of Technology as a civil engineer.
He began a notable 31-year career with The Smith Group, formerly known as Smith, Hinchman & Grylls. His projects as associate and senior architect are legendary and include Kmart World Headquarters, the Shore Club Apartments, the Detroit Institute of Arts, Cobo Hall, Lincoln Chase Bank in Rochester, N.Y., and, most recently, the new terminal at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
Beyond a strong commitment to his career, he found time to be a mentor to youth at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church. As an adviser to the Greek Orthodox Youth Association, he led several hundred young people in charitable endeavors such as the annual Christmas caroling for patients at St. John Hospital and Medical Center, followed by spaghetti dinners which he lovingly prepared. He helped build team spirit with youth sports tournaments throughout the Midwest and Canada. Many of these young people will not only remember his warm smile but also his contagious laughter as they rode the roller coaster on their annual trips to Cedar Point. Mr. Nichols led this youth organization for more than 30 years, 18 of them with his late wife Betty, until her death in 1991.
His own children ranked No. 1 in his life. From coaching the Grosse Pointe Woods/Shores Little League team to photographing dance recitals, he followed every activity on to their college days at the University of Michigan where he joined in their passion for U of M football.
Mr. Nichols was a 32nd degree Mason and a Shriner, as well as member of the American Society of Testing and Materials, the Hellenic University Club and the Assumption Parish Council. In addition, he was a construction adviser for the Assumption Church, Cultural Center and the Eastpointe School on Marter Road.
His hobbies included photography, music, dancing and cooking.
Mr. Nichols is survived by his wife Grace, his children Lydia, fiancee of Joseph Villeneuve, Madelyn (Steve) Torakis; George (Christine) Nichols; his stepson Stephen (Laurel) Kalkanis; his granddaughter Elizabeth; his sister Pat Vasiliades; his brother Chris (Lois) Nichols; five nephews and nieces and three grandnephews and grandnieces.
Gust Nichols will forever remain a symbol of strength, kindness, dedication and caring to his family and those whose lives he touched.
Arrangements were handled by the Verheyden Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe Park. A funeral service was held on Feb. 27, at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in St. Clair Shores. Interment is at Cadillac Memorial Gardens in Mount Clemens.
Tributes may be made to the Assumption Church, Nichols Scholarship Fund, 21800 Marter Rd., St. Clair Shores, MI 48080.
