Shirley Marie (Fettig) Itsell, 89, of Petoskey died peacefully July 9,2021 at Mallard Cove in Petoskey.
Shirley was born November 6, 1931 in Petoskey and was the daughter of William Patrick and Emma Catherine nee Steffel Fettig. She was raised on the family farm on East Mitchell Road which had formerly been the farm of her grandparents, Martin and Mary Fettig. She attended St. Francis School for 10 years and graduated from Petoskey High School in 1949. After working a few years in the offices of the City of Petoskey offices, she joined the Franciscan convent in Manitowoc Wisconsin where she graduated from Silver Lake College and she taught elementary school in Appleton & Waukesha, Wisconsin, then in Yuma Arizona.
In 1968 she left the convent to pursue more dreams. She met Charles Itsell and they were married at St. Francis Church in Petoskey on September 9, 1972 and they had a son, James M. Itsell in August of 1974. They made their home at the Itsell farmstead in Howell until their retirement when they moved to Brighton. They were members of the catholic churches in Howell then in Brighton. Shirley loved singing in the church choir and also with the Friendship Center group in Petoskey. She was a devout Catholic and true patriot of the USA. She was an astute follower of politics. She spent her final 3 ½ years in senior retirement in Petoskey.
She is survived by her son, James M. Itsell; her siblings, Arlene R. Foltz, of Petoskey, Lyle P. (Patricia) Fettig of Champaign, Illinois, Kenneth M. (Margaret) Fettig of Mason, Michigan, and Emily (Norman) Daniel of Petoskey; brother-in-law, James Acker of Traverse City; as well as many nieces, nephews & cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William & Emma Fettig; her husband, Charlie Itsell; brother and sister-in-law, Wayne and Elaine Fettig; sister, Margaret Acker of Traverse City, sister & brother-in-law, Marilyn and Richard Fox of Lansing; and brother-in-law, Fred Foltz of Petoskey.
The Rev. Greg McCallum of St. Francis Church, Petoskey will officiate a funeral Mass at 10:30am, July 22 at St. Francis Xavier Church. The Rosary will be recited at 9:15 at St. Francis Church followed by visitation until time of Mass at10:30. Burial will be at a later date at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Howell, Michigan.
Donations may be made to St. Francis School or Brother Dan's Food Pantry at St. Francis.
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