Elizabeth Marie Grinzinger

With her family gathered around her, Elizabeth Marie (Hayward) Grinzinger, 72, went peacefully home to the Lord on Dec. 27, 2004. Elizabeth lost very few battles throughout her life, regardless of the odds, but her courageous fight against cancer ended, as a testament of her life...strong in faith, giving comfort to her family in the manner she set for her passing. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Robert Byrne presiding. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call at Lux Funeral Home on Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. and on Wednesday from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. There will be a vigil service at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Visitation continues at the church on Thursday from 10-11 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Academy Foundation or to Hospice of Central Michigan. Envelopes are available at Lux Funeral Home. Elizabeth was born Aug. 19, 1932, in Mt. Pleasant, the daughter of LeRoy and Pearl (DeGeer) Hayward. A dedicated and fiercely loyal wife, mother and friend, Elizabeth tirelessly committed herself to her family, her church and her work. She gave freely of her creativity, unparalleled energy and endless strength to bring beauty, order and comfort to every corner of her world. At a time when most women did not work outside the home, Elizabeth raised five children while rejoining the work force after the birth of her third child. She was a great asset to the City of Mt. Pleasant, Grinzinger Insurance Agency, Krogers, Wolverine World-Wide, and finally Central Michigan University from where she retired. She was especially proud to have been among the first women to successfully compete for and pass all requirements to apprentice as a carpenter at CMU. While she eventually returned to her position in Food Service, where she had met some of her dearest friends, her friends and family are forever grateful for the talents she gained and the woodshop she built. Her beloved cottage at School Section Lake, her home and the homes of her children are all evidence of her skills and vision. Elizabeth converted to the Roman Catholic faith prior to her marriage to Gerald H. Grinzinger on April 18, 1952. Her instructor, Father Edward Neubecker of St. Joseph the Worker Church in Beal City said she asked more questions and demanded more answers than any other student he had ever had. From the day she joined the church, however, she never wavered from her promise. She took on several activities at Sacred Heart Church over the years including serving as one of the originators of Sacred Hearts Fall Festival, directing many of the early talent shows, and cooking and serving countless funeral or fund raising dinners. One of her greatest contributions was praising the Lord through song, which she did as a member of the choir for nearly 30 years. Elizabeths greatest passion and accomplishment was her family, the home she provided them and the traditions she gave them. She is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Jerry Grinzinger and their five children and families: Kathie Grinzinger and her daughters, Amanda (fianc, Marco Rodriguez) Hillmann and Elizabeth Hillmann; David and Leigh Ann (Quinlan) Grinzinger and their sons, Nicholas and Nathan Grinzinger; Michael and Lisa (Goeders) Grinzinger and their children, Mark and Anna Jane Grinzinger; Jeffrey and Deborah (Raymond) Grinzinger and their children, Matthew, Ryan and RaeLeigh Grinzinger; and Karen (Grinzinger) and Jeff Snider and their children, Kayla and Zachary Snider. She is also survived by her special lifelong friend, Rose OBrien; brothers, LeRoy (Betty) Hayward, John Hayward and Robert Hayward; sister-in-law, Marcella Hayward; brother-in-law, Ed Natzel; and many wonderful nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Charles Hayward and Daniel Hayward, sister, Ellen (Hayward) Natzel and an infant sister.