Ardythe L. Hansen

Ardythe Hansen, 85, of St. Joseph, passed away on December 12, 2007, at Lakeland Continuing Care in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at 11:00 AM. Reverend Thomas Batsky will officiate. Burial will be held in Frankenmuth, MI at a later date. Memorial donations can be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church, 609 Court St., St. Joseph or Hospice at Home, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph. Those wishing to send the family a message of condolence may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com. Ardythe was born on May 11, 1922 in Standish, Michigan to Michael and Clara (Hufnagel) Nigl. Ardythe married the love of her life, Raymond, on June 24, 1944 in Bay City, MI. Starting in March of 1944, Ardythe raised her family in Saginaw, MI and Frankenmuth, MI. From 1957-1963 Ardythe and Ray managed Camp Lu La Lea located at Henderson, MI. In 1963, Ardythe became secretary at Congregational Church in Saginaw, MI. Later, she became secretary to the Child Development Director of the Saginaw Head Start Program where she served until she retired to Northport in 1978. In 1998, Ardythe returned to St. Joseph to be closer to her family. Ardythe is survived by her sons, Timothy (Barb) Hansen of La Grange, Illinois, Michael (Peri) Hansen of St. Joseph, and daughter, Ardythe Andrews also of St. Joseph; her brother Tom (Tammi) Nigl of Fishers, IN; her sisters Ruth (Charles) Ellis of Portland, OR, Catherine McAden of Lynchburg, VA, and Carol (Arden) Mead of Houghton Lake; her grand children, Emily, Kelly, Lisa and Dana Hansen, Katie Andrews; and her great grandson, Dylan Smith. Ardythe was preceded in death by her husband Raymond in 1999 and son Jeffrey Hansen in 1966.