Roman P. Hammes was born on February 22, 1945 and passed on April 2, 2025 (80). He became a member of the MCGP on January 14, 2014 (11).    

                                                                            

Roman Peter Hammes,80, of Clinton Township, Michigan died on April 2,2025.

He was born on February 22,1945 in Sheboygan,Wisconsin, the son of the late Elmer and

Catherine (Walsh) Hammes. Roman attended St. Mary's Catholic Grade School in Random Lake, Wisconsin. He graduated from St.Francis Brothers School in Mount Calvary, Wisconsin in May 1963 receiving his high school diploma. He continued his time with the Franciscan Capuchins in Detroit until the mid-70s.

Roman worked as a butler and chauffeur for the late Countess Cyril Tolstoy before returning to college to pursue his nursing degree. Roman held an Associate Degree in both Nursing and Gerontology from Wayne County Community College. Throughout his nursing career, Roman worked at various hospitals, clinics and also did private nursing.

Roman as many have stated was "born to serve." Throughout his life, he was actively involved in his community. He strives to facilitate the needs of others. He worked tirelessly in a wide range of organizations. He served on many governing boards and advisory committees. After his retirement in 2007, Roman worked with Wayne County Commissioner, Tim Killeen's office. He was active in state and local politics and the Democratic Party. Roman received many service awards from the organizations he was affiliated with. He continued to be an active community member until recently.

Roman traveled to many parts of the United States. He also traveled abroad. He was a lifelong learner who enjoyed meeting new people, seeing new places and experiencing all he could.

Roman is survived by a brother, Richard (Barbara) Sheboygan, Wisconsin, a sister, Mary Kay Hammes, Hartland, Wisconsin, as well as nephews, nieces, great nephews, great nieces and a great, great nephew who shares Roman's birthday. He is also survived by a multitude of friends and two very close friends, Carolyn VanDorn and Denver Higley. He was very blessed to have these two caregivers in his life. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Roger and his sister-in-law, Mary Ann and his brother-in-law Charles (Chip) Droege.

The Chas. Verheyden Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Clinton Township, Michigan is assisting the family.

Anthony J. Morse was born on December 30, 1936 and passed on March 14, 2025 (88). He became a member of the MCGP on December 9, 2008 (16).        

                                Anthony “Tony” Jenckes Morse, 88, passed away Friday, March 14, 2025. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, stepfather, step-grandfather and friend and leaves behind countless people who will cherish his memory.

Tony was born Dec. 30, 1936, in Detroit, to Josephine Jenckes Morse and Clayton William Morse Jr. He was a 1954 graduate of Grosse Pointe High School, where he played varsity tennis, learned to love classical music and opera and proudly played a small part in an opera with Maria Callas.

He received a bachelor’s degree in literature, science and the arts from the University of Michigan in 1959 and was a member of Psi Upsilon fraternity. Tony was a Michigan man and always made sure to have a Michigan baseball cap nearby.

With scholarly inclinations and an adventurer’s heart, Tony set out to travel in his college and post-college years, residing for a time in Brooklyn, N.Y., and Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he took up skiing at nearby resorts. Making his way back home, he settled in Grosse Pointe to enter the family retail business, Sign of the Mermaid. In 1964, Tony married Susan Gray Garlinghouse, with whom he had two children, Tony Jr. and Carolyn.

At age 40, he moved to northern Michigan and spent 27 years at his “Walden,” which included 360 acres in the woods where, from the trees on the property, he built a cabin overlooking the Pigeon River that he named Fern Hill. Here he developed a love for walking, with daily saunters through the Gaylord woods. He was active in the Gaylord Area Council for the Arts. With his longtime partner, Marie Brabb, he helped publish its newsletter, “Art Source,” and contributed many of his own writings. He also was responsible for bringing well-known musical and theatrical groups to the Gaylord area. Many late nights were filled with poetry, music and guessing games with kindred friends to name the poet or the song. During this period, he wrote his first book, “Walking, the Art of Sauntering.”

Tony returned once more to Grosse Pointe in the early 2000s, where he met and fell in love with Pamela Sattley Morris. They were married in 2007 and spent many happy years together. They enjoyed traveling, visiting family, art lectures and many social and charitable events. He was a frequent visitor to the Detroit Institute of Arts and Detroit Public Library. During this time, Tony wrote his second book, “The Declaration of America and Other Writings,” a compilation of his many writings over the years. As stated on the book jacket, Tony was an intensely literary and probing writer who wrote with the same passion he brought to each day.

Throughout his life, Tony was an avid reader, writer and enthusiastic walker. He enjoyed discussing literature, history and philosophy with anyone who was willing. Toward this end, he enjoyed regular Starbucks meetups with new, old and soon-to-be friends, which among his most treasured daily exchanges included reading to his friend, a retired, blind professor from the University of Chicago. Later in life, Tony took up bridge and thoroughly enjoyed weekly games with close friends. He was quick to warm to new friends while maintaining lasting friendships from childhood, college, travels and beyond. He enjoyed spending time with them at different organizations, including the Detroit Racquet Club, Country Club of Detroit, Woodworkers and American Legion.

A quote from Tony’s “The Declaration of America and Other Writings” encapsulates his lasting message: “Now darkness was closing in. But I had been tracking in this direction long enough. Trails are tender. Care should be taken to preserve the mystery. Our paths will cross again ...”

Tony was predeceased by his parents; and daughter, Carolyn Miriani (Dennis). He is survived by his wife, Pamela Morse; sister, Suzanne Cassel; son, Anthony Morse Jr.; stepsons, Chad Morris (Liz) and Stuart Morris (Shirley); stepdaughters, Leigh Merinoff (Charlie), Lindsay Morris (Stephen) and Carrington Morris; and extended family members, Dennis Miriani, Joe Posch and Cappy Morse.

He was adored by his five grandchildren, Madeline Wrubel (Justin), Lilly Miriani, Phoebe Miriani, Charlie Morse and Ian Morse; and eight step-grandchildren. His four great-grandchildren, Charlie Miriani and Jack, Lucy and George Wrubel, were a delight to him in his final years.

The family acknowledges with gratitude the special care given to Tony by his caregivers, Brian Mendoza and Sol Sunga, as well as Leslie Mackey, who is a close family friend. The family is grateful for the daily visits of Martha Henkel and devoted friends who came to call.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 31, at Christ Church Grosse Pointe, 61 Grosse Pointe Blvd., Grosse Pointe Farms. Memorial donations may be made to the Belle Isle Conservancy, 300 River Place Dr., Ste. 2800, Detroit, MI 48207                                                                                  

Raymond M Cracchiolo was born on November 11, 1924 and passed on January 9th, 2025 (100). He became a member of the MCGP on September 9.2003 (22).

Raymond Michael Cracchiolo of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, peacefully passed into eternal life on January 9th, 2025, at the age of 100. Born and raised in Detroit, the son of Italian immigrants, Raymond consciously sought out new horizons and faced challenges, while always guided by his Roman Catholic faith.

Raymond was born on November 11th, 1924, to Giuseppe and Benedetta Cracchiolo of Terrasini, Sicily. He was the eighth of nine children. As a child he worked with his brothers to support his family, selling vegetables and fruit from their truck, often on Lakeshore Drive. During these early years he developed his outstanding work ethic and deep commitment to his family. Raymond was known for his discerning intellect, humility, keen wit and connecting easily with everyone.

Raymond attended Wilbur Wright Trade School and developed an extraordinary talent as an engineer and inventor. His unique skill set and ambitious nature served him well as he joined his brothers Peter, Sam and Tom in building both Burns Automatic Corporation and Burns Cold Forge Company. Garnering numerous patents, they helped revolutionize the development of coldforged steel products. Eventually merging with Masco Corporation, Raymond and his brothers would assume executive leadership roles within Masco.

In 1958, Raymond met and married the love of his life, a beautiful and intelligent schoolteacher, Jane Forton of Suttons Bay, Michigan. He lovingly referred to her as his "Jane Girl." Jane was his compass. Together they raised four children: Christi, Heidi, Natali and David. Raymond loved to travel with his family both in the states and abroad sharing with them his love and enthusiasm for art, music, cuisine and culture.

As a young man, Raymond was an avid snow skier. He enjoyed skiing in Northern Michigan, New Hampshire, Idaho, Banff, and later, Colorado. One of his greatest joys in life was skiing with his children and grandchildren. Raymond and Jane spent many glorious winters at their home in Beaver Creek, Colorado.

Raymond was passionate about his home and gardens in Grosse Pointe and he poured himself into their beautification and preservation. Friends and family enjoyed his beautiful trees, gardens, greenhouse orchid collection and picking vegetables with him in the garden. A great delight was sharing the Christmastime lighting of the Ginkgo tree on his front lawn with the community. Sharing his home and making memories with loved ones always brought him immense joy. Later in life he would quietly state that God's natural beauty was his heaven on earth.

Raymond was dedicated to his physical fitness. He skied and played tennis well into his 90s and exercised daily through his 100th year of life. Healthy eating was a priority and one of his greatest pleasures was preparing vegetables from his garden. As a lifelong learner, he began weekly piano lessons at the age of 75.

Raymond always found solace in his unwavering faith and commitment to living a generous life that blessed others. One of Raymond's greatest gifts of service was showing up without hesitation to support those in need. His compassion and tenderness toward widows, the sick and the bereaved was a constant throughout his life. As a member of the Order of Malta, he took multiple pilgrimages with his children to Lourdes, France, serving those in need of healing. He and Jane shared a devotion to giving to the local community of Detroit and other philanthropic endeavors: The Detroit Institute of Art, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, University of Detroit Jesuit High School, St John's Hospital, the Rose Hill Center and numerous Catholic institutions.

His legacy is one of love, faith and generosity–a life lived fully and shared abundantly. Raymond is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Jane; his children, Christi Small (Eric), Heidi Bell (John), Natali Ceniza (Bill Royal) and David Cracchiolo (Lucretia); 13 grandchildren, Catherine Mitchell (Ben), John Bell IV, Thomas Bell, Mackenzie Miller (Tyler), Heidi Small, Sophia Ceniza, Mariana Ceniza, Raymond Cracchiolo II, Salvatore Cracchiolo, Vincent Cracchiolo, Angelo Cracchiolo, Louis Cracchiolo and Elaina Cracchiolo; and four great-grandchildren, Benjamin Mitchell, Raymond Mitchell, Lola Bell and George Mitchell.

A funeral Mass will be held Saturday, February 15th with instate at 11:30 a.m. until the time of Mass at 12 noon at St Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, 157 Lakeshore Drive, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan.

Memorial donations to honor Raymond Cracchiolo may be made to the Rose Hill Center, 5130 Rose Hill Blvd, Holly MI 48442, Rose Hill Center; Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist, 4597 Warren Rd, Ann Arbor MI 48105, Sisters of Mary; or Right to Life of Michigan, 27417 Harper Ave, St Clair Shores MI 48081. Right to Life.

Raymond Harry Chown was born on June 9, 1933 and passed on March 3, 2025 (91). He became a member of the MCGP on May 18, 1998 (26).

Raymond Harry Chown, age 91, of Saint Clair Shores and Grosse Pointe passed away on March 3, 2025. He was born on June 9, 1933 in Detroit MI to the late Sidney and Beatrice Chown. Ray is survived by his wife of 64 years Sally, brother Don, sons Kevin (Renee) and Robert (Jill); grandchildren Erica, Melinda, Nicholas and Andrew. He is predeceased by his son Raymond and brother Robert. He will lie instate on Saturday, March 8th from 9:30 am until the time of his Funeral Mass at 10 am at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, 157 Lake Shore Road, Grosse Pointe Farms. Share a memory at Verheyden.org