Barbara J. Sirrine's Obituary
Grand Rapids - Barbara Jean (Smith) Sirrine, formerly of Big Rapids, passed away Sunday, May 3, 2015 at Clark Retirement Community in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she had lived since 1999. She was born September 23, 1921, in Albion, Michigan to Noah and Lenora (Sovern) Smith. After graduating from Albion High School she attended Maher's Business College in Kalamazoo and worked as an executive secretary at REO Motors in Lansing. She married Philip M. Sirrine on August 17, 1941, in the First United Methodist Church of Albion. Following Phil's service in the Navy during WWII they worked and played together making memories with their family and friends in the various cities in which they lived; Bellevue, Morley, Albion, Eaton Rapids, Mason, Lakeview, and Big Rapids. Barbara used her education working as a secretary for Jim Kos, Superintendent of Lakeview Public Schools from 1959 to 1965 and as an Administrative Secretary in the School of Business at Ferris State University (then FS College) from 1965 until her retirement in 1982. She was a member of the Big Rapids Business & Professional Women's Club, C.O.G.S. (College Office Girls) and the Big Rapids Housing Commission and an active member of the United Methodist Church is each community she lived. She was an accomplished seamstress and upon retirement she joined the Attic Diggers Quilt Club and created numerous quilts and other quilted items for family members and friends during the next 26 years. The quilt club made friends with members of a quilt club in England with each club traveling to their respective countries and she has remained in contact with her "exchange" friend Ruth Wardle ever since. Barbara believed that a good friend was like a warm quilt wrapped around the heart and she was a friend to many wherever she lived. Retirement also provided her time to pursue antiquing, volunteering for Hospice, and spending countless hours using her secretarial skills to help organize and support the many musical endeavors of her husband Phil. She enjoyed being an honorary member of the Scottville Clown Band and followed her husband and fellow clowns to hundreds of parades and performances throughout the state of Michigan and beyond. Barbara's greatest joy in life was her family. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and aunt. She firmly believed that a family stitched together with love would seldom unravel. She was a wonderful cook and was in her glory hosting family gatherings, entertaining friends, as well as providing loving care and commitment to her parents and other relatives who needed support and health care in their declining years. Following the death of her beloved husband Phil in 1997, after 55 years of marriage, she made the decision to move to Clark Retirement Community, where she made many friends among residents and staff with her warm, pleasant, personality and sincere beautiful smile. She was active in the Clark Drama Club, the Red Hatters, and volunteered for the Clark Walk and read to area students. She enjoyed having coffee and cookies in the Chatterbox with friends and liked chocolate, peanut butter, and pizza. She had a great sense of humor, loved to laugh and tell a good joke. Barbara is survived by her son Gary T. Sirrine (Julie) of Sebring, Florida, oldest daughter Gloria Switzer (Gary) of Fremont, Michigan, and youngest daughter Mary Ellen Darnell and son-in-law David Darnell both of St. Johns, Michigan. A son, Rodney James, died at the age of 4 months in 1947. She was the proud grandmother of 9 grandchildren; David Sirrine (Natasha), Daniel Sirrine (Julie), Julie (Sirrine) Alpers (Scott), Janet (Sirrine) Galvin (Jim) and their mother Karla Sirrine. Also surviving are Lynne (Switzer) Burns (John), Michael Switzer, and John (Annette) Switzer and Leigh Anne (Darnell) Jewison (Ken) and Carey Rae Darnell. Her pride and joy were her 19 great grandchildren; Cole & Maeve Sirrine; Matthew, Erika & Abby Sirrine; Alexis & Jacob Keena & Kassie Alpers; Annette, Brian, Kaleb, Erik, Lauren, & Josef Galvin; Raelynn & Zachary Jewison; Isaac Rubio Switzer & Roman Switzer Sherk; Rory Switzer and baby Switzer due in July. Barbara was thrilled to have 1 great great grandchild, Ayeranna Galvin. She is also survived by Smith, Nowlin, and Bilski nieces and nephews whom she held dear to her heart. She was preceded in death by her parents, her in-laws Alfred and Bernice Sirrine, a brother Lynn and sister-in-law Betty Smith, sister Helen Nowlin, sister-in-law Pat Bilski and step mother Betty Smith; nieces Mary Lynne Smith McSwain and Karol Nowlin Meacell and nephews Philip Nowlin, Tom Bilski, and John Lambert and dear friend Marcheta Haile of Clark. A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 16, in the Chapel of Clark Retirement Community, 1551 Franklin, Grand Rapids, Michigan at 11 AM. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Clark Foundation Benevolent Fund or FUMC MLK Reading Program. Her family thanks the many people at Clark who were Barbara's friends and especially those who provided loving care for her during the last 4 months of her life. The family is most appreciative of Dr. Shannon English and the staff on Arborview and Epworth. Arrangements by Mohnke Funeral Home of Big Rapids. Share a memory or express condolences at www.mohnkefuneralhome.com
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