Cecilia Frances Neff

Cecilia Frances Neff, age 84 of Comins, MI, passed away Monday, May 3, 2010, in Vanderbilt, MI. Cecilia was born on March 23, 1926 in Sioux City, Iowa to Boleslaw and Mary (Swiderski) Dorozinsky. She moved to Detroit, MI at age 2, where she lived until moving to Comins, MI in 1951at the age of 25. She married Elmer Roy Neff on October 20, 1951 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Mio, MI, where she remained a faithful member, teaching Catechism Classes, serving as both Lector and Eucharistic Minister and in numerous other activities in the parish. Cecilia was the titular head of the Neffishes, who actively supervised, the all volunteered ""good for nothing"" clean-up crew for St. Mary's outdoor seating pavilion. She was active in the community as member of the PTA, Mio Irisarians and the P.B.B. Action Committee. She was a mother, homemaker and ""farmer's wife"", she enjoyed cooking, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, rock cutting and polishing and photography. She will be remembered for her kindness and generosity to those in need. Cecilia was very proud of the fact that, through all of ""life's challenges"", she and Elmer had a marriage that lasted 58 years - ""till death do us part"". Surviving are her children: Melinda F. Neff of Vanderbilt, MI; Christopher B. (Cynthia) Neff of Comins, MI; Mary R. (Henry) Mason III of Gaylord, MI; and Rebecca A. (Richard) Cope of Gaylord, MI; grandchildren: Vanessa R. ""Neff"" (Jeremy) Cavanaugh of Fort Riley, KS; Jessyca J. Neff of Chicago, IL; Katrina A. ""Mason"" (Howard) Wright of Waterford, MI; Henry M. Mason IV of Gaylord, MI; William F. Mason of Vanderbilt, MI; Eric C. Mason of Gaylord, MI; Andrea R. Mason of Gaylord, MI; Cassandra L. Cope of Los Angeles, CA; Sheila S. ""Cope"" (Jacob) Barden of Chicago, IL; Nicholas A. Cope of Gaylord, MI; and Andrew R. Cope of Gaylord, MI; 2 great-grandchildren: Alexander J. Wright and Jessica M. Wright, both of Waterford, MI; 1 sister: Narcyza (Joseph) Detzler of Gaylord, sister in law Mae Marie Belinsky of Greensboro, SC, her dear friends Eda Horn and Millie Foss and many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her son William Neff in 1981and her husband of 58 years, Elmer R. Neff, on January 8, 2010. Visitation Monday, May 10, 2010 from 4-9 PM at Lashley Funeral Home, Mio, MI with a Vigil Prayer Service offered by St. Mary's Parish at 8 PM, She will lay in state from 10 AM until the time of Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Mio. Interment following in Fairview Cemetery, Fairview, MI. Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary Catholic Church, P.O. Box 189, Mio, MI 48647. Arrangements by Lashley Funeral Home, Mio.