Obituaries

Matilda Harriet “Harriet” Brouwer

of Dexter, Michigan, age 90, died Sunday, February 2, 2025, at St. Joseph Hospital in Ann Arbor. She was born February 9, 1934, in Alton, Iowa, the daughter of William and Matilda (Muyskens) Korver.

Harriet graduated from Northwestern Junior College in Iowa, studying Elementary Education. She taught for a few years, raised her family, and then was a buyer for three different medical companies. Harriet was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Ann Arbor, where she served as Deacon several times and served on the Mission Committee, including three trips to the Philippines. She also served with the local Habitat for Humanity. Harriet enjoyed arranging dried weeds and flowers and tending to her beautiful gardens.

Bertha Santos Holmstrand

of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of Cary, North Carolina, New York City, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, age 102, died Saturday, December 21, 2024, at Wellbridge of Pinckney. She was born January 17, 1922, in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of Anthony V. and Anna Bertha (Aggot) Santos.

Bertha was a Staff Seargent in the Marines from June,1943 to January,1946. She enlisted in June,1943 after her fiancé, William Thomas Hanna, was killed in Guadalcanal in 1942.  He was awarded the Navy Cross, and then a Destroyer Escort was named in his honor. Bertha was Maid of Honor at the launch. 

Bertha attended the Aerology Course at US Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, N.J., then was assigned to The Aerology Office at the Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, N.C. in January,1944. In 1944, Bertha lectured in Portuguese to the Portuguese Educational Society on activities of Women Marines and made 9 radio broadcasts for the Office of War Information and the Office of Inter-American Affairs. She presented them in five languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Italian. In 1945 Bertha was a Portuguese interpreter to classes that included a Brazilian General and Colonels.  She was an interpreter in Spanish and Portuguese to a class of Inter-American Defense Committee members.  For a bond drive in New York, Bertha was a lecturer at an Aerology Exhibit and was awarded a citation for selling over a million dollars in War Bonds. 

Marilyn Lee Nason

Lee Nason, born Marilyn Lee Fischer, of Berkeley, California, passed away on January 29, 2025, in Canton, Michigan at the age of 95. She was born December 14, 1929, the daughter of Torsten R. and Agnes (Kahler) Fischer.

Lee was married twice, to Edwin Silva in 1948 and to Robert Nason in 1956. Lee is survived by a daughter, Jennifer Lee Nason and two grandsons, Isaiah Davis and Dylan McBride. She was preceded in death by a brother, Robert E. Fischer.

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.