Sign up to receive obituaries
Click HERE to sign up for our obituary mailing list.
* you will receive our obituaries by e-mail each time one is completed
* simply delete obituaries for people you don't know
* unsubscribe at any time
Home
Cole Funeral Chapel
Cole Funeral Chapel is a family-owned funeral home committed to caring for your family. An independent funeral home in Chelsea, Michigan, our mission is to meet your needs whatever they may be. We provide a wide range of services, from sitting down with you to discuss future needs to grief counseling after the death of a loved one.Our funeral home was founded in 1898, and was purchased by Donald Cole in 1977. His son, Allen, bought the funeral home from his father in 1999, continuing the tradition of service to the Chelsea area.
We know that making funeral arrangements can be difficult, so let us help you every step of the way. We have a professional staff equipped with many resources that can provide assistance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please feel free to call anytime, or e-mail us at staff @ ColeFuneralChapel.com
Cremation Services
We offer choices in cremation service, including:
- direct cremation with no services
- cremation followed by a memorial service or visitation time
- a complete viewing and funeral followed by cremation
We want to help your family choose services that fit your needs. We will walk you through your options without pressuring you, and we will help you to compare the costs of different options. Regardless of your choice, we will treat your loved one with respect, we will help you write and place obituaries, we will obtain death certificates promptly, and help you chose the final resting place for your loved one's ashes. We will not try to sell you services or merchandise you do not need.
Cremation with Public Viewing & Funeral
Cremation Packages - Price list
Read more: Cremation Services
Steps for Planning Ahead
We understand how difficult it is to plan funeral services, so our staff is available to help you in any way that we can. Please call us and we will walk you through every step of planning, and we will offer choices to make the services just right for your family. To help you understand the process, here are some of the steps you can choose to do ahead of time:
Funeral Planning
☐ Fill out basic pre-arrangement information sheet. 15-20 minutes, no charge. This provides the basic information we need to write obituaries and fill out the death certificates. It gives us some information about the type of services you want. Click here to download the Pre-Arrangement form
☐ Fill out funeral service information sheet. 10-15 minutes, no charge. This provides information about the funeral / memorial service you would like: who should lead it, type of music, readings, etc. Click here to download the Funeral Service Information Sheet
☐ Itemize funeral goods and services. 30-60 minutes with funeral home staff, usually at the funeral home, no charge. You choose the goods and services you want, and we will create an itemized funeral bill so you can know the anticipated costs. This is an estimate only, but lets you make many of the decisions in advance, and guides us and your family as to your wishes.
☐ Pre-pay your funeral invoice. 15-30 minutes with funeral home staff. After itemizing the services you want (see previous choice), you may pay for the funeral in one lump sum, or in payments, and lock in the prices for your funeral bill. This saves your family from worrying about paying for your funeral.
Memorial Planning
☐ Choose your cemetery marker. 30-60 minutes, cost vary greatly. You may choose the type of stone or gravemarker you want, and lay out the exact design for your stone. You may wish to save the information until after the death, or have the stone cut and delivered.
☐ Plan a memory slideshow. 30-60 minutes, $95. Choose 30-70 photos to be put into a slideshow that can be played at the visitation and/or funeral. You may put sticky notes on back to indicate an order to the photos if you wish, or to label slides. You may choose to narrate the photos in your voice.
☐ Write a letter to your loved ones. No cost, time will vary greatly. You may write a letter to your spouse or children to be read and re-read after your death. It could be read publicly, or just given to those you choose after your death. We will be happy to file it with your pre-arrangement. Please put in sealed envelope with the name of the recipient on the outside.
Recent Obituaries
Carolyn Ciupa
Chelsea, MI, formerly of formerly of Detroit, Ypsilanti, Plymouth, Farmington Hills, Novi, Gregory
Age 88, died Friday, January 24, 2025 at Sacred Heart Adult Care Home in Gregory. She was born March 12, 1936 in Dearborn, Michigan, the daughter of Bernard Peter & Christina Marie (Novak) Tykoski.
Carolyn was a trained nurse, homemaker, teacher, paralegal, and was self-employed (running a cleaning and restoration business). She enjoyed traveling, gardening, arts and crafts, sewing, reading and book clubs, and debates. She was a Business Network International member and a member of National Organization of Women.
Read more ...John Cecil Hollenbeck
of Dexter, Michigan, age 77 passed away Saturday, January 18, 2025, at Brightside Assisted Living in Jackson. He was born May 18, 1947, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the son of Clifford Myron and Ellen Cecillia (Lobdell) Hollenbeck. Growing up, John was an Altar Boy for 7 years at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dexter. In 1966, John enlisted in the Marines and served in Vietnam. John worked as a Machinist and Tool Maker at the King-Seeley Plant, which Chrysler bought out, then GT Products, and Eaton Co., when it closed. John then worked for Dapco Industries until he retired in 2009 after 41 years in the industry.
John was a VFW Member. He was a member of the American Legion Post 557 for 54 years and the Sons of the American Legion for 31 years. He sponsored and worked the Make-a-Wish and Child Welfare Charity Golf Outing for 25 years, which helped support the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the American Legion's Child Welfare Foundation. John worked with wonderful friends at the Annual Ann Arbor Salvation Army's Silent Auction and volunteered with the Dexter-Ann Arbor Annual 5k Run for 25 years. He served in the Honor Guard for the American Legion and carried the American Flag during the Memorial Day parades. John enjoyed fishing and golfing and would do so in any weather.
Read more ...Elizabeth Rose Weise
of Ann Arbor, MI, left this world on Friday, January 10, 2025. Elizabeth Rose Gougeon was born to William George “Bill” Gougeon and Clara Elizabeth (Varga) Gougeon in Wyandotte, Michigan, on July 15, 1939. Her father was of French-Canadian descent, her mother a native of Zádorfalva, Hungary.
She is survived by her loving husband, Donald Weise; their children, John Weise (Stephanie Bentley), Heidi Weise (Kortney Briske), and Bridget Weise Knyal (Stephen Kinnard); survived also by her beloved grandchildren, Samuel Weise, Chloe Weise, Talia Briske, Alexandra Margraves (Nick Margraves), Wade Knyal, and Violet Knyal. She is also survived by many additional beloved members of the Weise, Gougeon, and Knurek families. She was preceded in death by her parents and her loving sister Mary Lou (Gougeon) Knurek.
Elizabeth (Liz) graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in Wyandotte Michigan, where she was a cheerleader and always ready for a good laugh. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Art and Education at Marygrove College in Detroit, Michigan. Elizabeth taught high school art and kindergarten for many years, primarily in Hillsdale County, Michigan. She particularly enjoyed the funny sayings of her kindergarten students, one of whom called her “Mrs. Boogity” for fun. She was also a Hillsdale County vision technician and worked for the University of Michigan later in life.
Read more ...John Richard Outhwaite
of Grass Lake, Michigan, age 88, died Sunday, January 19, 2025, at home under hospice care. He was born February 21, 1936, in Detroit, Michigan, the son of John Richard and Loretta M. (Stephenson) Outhwaite.
John grew up in Detroit. He was a mechanic for a while and then worked as a self-employed carpet layer from 1970 - 2010, including subcontracting with Merkel’s. John was known around town as “Johnny O, the carpet guy.” John made a lot of friends at Stiver’s and enjoyed kayaking, camping in the U.P., and fly fishing.
Read more ...Stewart Elliott
Stewart Spencer Elliott born in Ottawa, Canada to Edward Procter and Eleanor Roosevelt Elliott, passed away on January 15, 2025, at his home of 39 years in Chelsea, Michigan. He was 82 years old.
Stewart studied architecture, art and sociology in college that lead to a lifelong career in building, design, teaching and writing. His professional journey began with the renovation of historic New England timber frame homes, eventually expanding to the construction of new, energy efficient structures. His work, driven by a love for sustainable design became his passion.
Read more ...Carolyn Ann Shepherd
of Dexter, Michigan, formerly of Ypsilanti
Age 82, died Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital. She was born February 12, 1942, in Briceville, Tennessee, the daughter of Clay Abner and Mary Helen (White) Braden. Carolyn graduated from Willow Run High School in 1960. She then went to cosmetology school and owned her own hair salon for many years before working for IBA Beauty School where she became an instructor and manager. Carolyn's whole life revolved around her daughter and grandchildren. In earlier years she enjoyed sewing and also loved making porcelain dolls with her sister, Betty.
Albert Frederick Ruhlig
of Dexter, age 104, died Monday, January 13, 2025, at Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital. He was born September 4, 1920, on the family farm in Dexter, Michigan, the son of Emil A. and Hazel L. (Campbell) Ruhlig.
Albert served in the US Navy Reserve in the South Pacific during World War II, serving in Japan, China, and the Caroline Islands from December 5,1944 to June 7, 1946. He was in Tokyo Bay the day before the signing of the peace treaty, when his ship the U.S.S. Tappehanock fueled the battleship Missouri, where the formal surrender was signed by Emperor Hirohito and General Douglas MacArthur. Albert returned to the family farm and later purchased the adjacent farm in 1946, where he would spend the remainder of his life. He was baptized in 1920, at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Detroit. He was confirmed in 1935, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor, where he was active in many leadership roles, such as Church Elder and Sunday School Teacher, until 1973, when he transferred his membership to Our Savior Lutheran Church in Chelsea. He remained active in church leadership until he retired in 1986, but continued to be active in the church until his death.
Read more ...