Eilene M. Christensen

Our loving Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother, Eilene Marguerite Christensen passed into heaven on September 3, 2012. Eilene was born on July 15, 1916 in Blanchard, MI to Norman and Lucy Curtiss. After graduating from Blanchard High School, she was the bookkeeper for Harris Milling Company. Eilene married Otto Christensen on July 27, 1941. In 1947 Otto and Eilene founded Christensen’s Furniture in Nashville, MI. Realizing the need for a larger building, they moved the business in 1961 to its present location in Charlotte, MI. The Christensen’s retired on January 1, 1979 selling the business to their daughters and son-in-laws. Otto and Eilene then traveled and split their time between Charlotte and Bradenton, FL. Eilene was an active community member in both Nashville and Charlotte, throughout the years she served in various capacities with the United Methodist Church and was currently a member of the Lawrence Ave. United Methodist Church of Charlotte. She also was very active in both the GFWC-Charlotte and the Charlotte Country Club. Eilene held life memberships in the VFW Auxiliary and Eastern Star. Eilene loved to play golf, bridge, and cribbage. She always took them seriously and played to win! Watching the MSU Spartans play football and basketball, along with the Detroit Tiger Baseball team were favorite pastimes. Eilene loved to cook, bake and entertain. She took great pride in presenting and serving delicious meals. She was especially famous for her pies. Eilene lived a good joke and playing practical jokes on others was common. Family was very important to Eilene. She adored her grandchildren and spent many hours with them playing cribbage, golf, and attending their activities. They were a source of great pride as were her great-grandchildren. Survivors include daughters Alice (Dan) Hayes, and Diane (Ron) Joppie both of Charlotte, MI; Grandchildren Ryan (Linda) Hayes of Fishers, IN, Rebecca (Chris) Melton of Grand Rapids, MI, Lisa Joppie of Grand Rapids, MI, Mark (Claudia) Hayes of Fishers, IN; Great-Grandchildren Brody and Ashlyn Hayes and Guiliana Melton; Sister Vera (Hugh) Kniffen; Sister-in-law Lucille Jensen and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Otto Christensen in 1996; brothers Dwayne, Stanford, Clifford and Norman; sisters Helen, Mary and Winnifred and daughter Marie Christensen in 1946. A celebration of Eilene’s life will be held at Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 11:00 A. M. with Pastor Terry Fisher officiating. Burial will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday September 5 from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. at the Burkhead-Green Funeral Home in Charlotte and on Thursday from 10:00 A.M. until service time at the Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church or AL!VE-HGB Hospital. www.burkhead-greenfuneralhome.com