Rena Cole

Rena Ellen Cole (Peterson), 80, of Traverse City, MI, passed away on Monday, December 8 with loved ones by her side. She lived a full and good life and will always be much loved and missed.

Born in Good Hart, MI, the daughter of Hjalmer (Shorty) and Sadie Peterson (Davis), Rena was the 7th of the 10 amazing people they brought into the world, creating a family that would love and support each other for lifetimes to follow.

At 14 she left home to live in town with Aunt Laura and Uncle Wally Hahn so she could work at Johnston’s restaurant and go to school. She graduated Salutatorian from Harbor Springs High School in 1964. She went to work for AT&T just a few years later when her daughter Kristina was just a baby. She brought Jeannie and Jamie (Jenna) into the world while still in Harbor Springs.

Her work at the Phone Company would take the family to Traverse City in 1979, where she spent over 20 years volunteering at Third Level Crisis Intervention Center, continuing even into her early retirement. The first years of her retirement were filled with the joy of looking after her grandchildren Kasey (Devin) and Kory (Lori), eradicating dandelions from her yard, crocheting, and keeping up with her family, including those she gained from her beloved Howard (Smitty) Smith.

She knitted hats and mittens for many years, then turned to crochet, making hundreds of baby blankets over the years and always open to special requests from those she loved. Her blankets and scarves are cherished treasures. She loved her Wednesday euchre games at the Senior Center and her Sunday dinners with friends. She was blessed to celebrate “Christmas at Grandma Rena’s” for many years with the combined Smith and Cole families and treasured all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren, looking forward to their visits and tales of adventures.

Her Family is sure that she is now busy organizing a Euchre game with those who went before her. Her strength and perseverance are an inspiration to many and she will be missed greatly.

At her request, services will be held in both Traverse City and Good Hart in the Spring. Visitation will be at 10 am on Saturday, May 2nd at East Bay Cavalry Church in Traverse City with a luncheon following the 11 am service. May 3rd will be an outdoor celebration of life with food and stories from 1-3 at 463 Church Road Harbor Springs, MI.

The family is being served by T & T Floral in Kingsley and requests that those wishing to make a donation in Rena’s name consider Project Feed The Kids, the Cherryland Humane Society or your favorite college student.

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