"I would like to offer my condolences to the Hodgins family. 83 years is quite an accomplishment. Hopefully this scripture will give you comfort because God is promising us he will do away with man's worst enemy, death. This is found for us at Rev. 21: 3,4; "With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: "Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. "And God himself will be with them." And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore.") (For more comforting scriptures please visit: http://bit.ly/1K38EFt.) Also, for more Bible based comfort visit (www.jw.org search "comfort" or "why we die") It has provided me with many more scriptures that have given me comfort, strengthened my faith and helped me find the answer to Why? I know it will do the same for you. God's kingdom that Jesus taught us to pray for at Matthew 6: 9, 10 will bring about these wonderful promises including the resurrection. John 6: 40 tells us: "For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who recognizes the Son and exercises faith in him should have everlasting life, and I will resurrect him on the last day." This is a wonderful promise made to us by our heavenly father and I pray it brings you comfort and hope. Again, I offer my sincere condolences to the family. Feel free to contact me at my email address: myranj@centurytel.net"
In loving memory of
V. KAY HODGINS
November 6, 1932 - May 27, 2016
Verle Kay Hodgins, (Swenor, nee Malmgren), 83, passed away on Friday, May 27, 2016 at the Marquette County Medical Care Facility in Ishpeming, surrounded by her loving family.
Mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Dementia in 2012. We were fortunate that she was so full of life and had a fantastic sense of humor; she knew her children, grandchildren and friends and loved spending time visiting with them. Kay's memories of the past luckily never faded.
Kay, as she preferred to be known, was born on November 6, 1932 in Marquette, Michigan to Agnes Vitali Malmgren, nee L'Huillier. She was on the MSHS cheerleading squad while in high school. Kay's father was Albert Neil Malmgren of Swedish descent, who was one of the original Marquette Flyers and was killed when his airplane crashed on August 13, 1934 near Beaver Grove, Michigan. The FAA ruled the cause of the crash to be metal fatigue.
Kay was only a little over a year old when her birth father died. Her mother later married Captain Ora E. Demaray of the Michigan State Police and together they raised Kay and her two brothers. Her youngest brother, Neil Albert (Paul) was killed on November 1, 1944 on Washington Street when he was hit by a car.
On December 3, 1949, Kay married James L Swenor and raised 6 children. Kay & Jim spent many years at their camp on Wolf Lake in Champion Township. Kay & Jim were married for 20 years.
Kay then married Kenneth W Hodgins on June 23, 1972. They were married for 23 years and continued raising Kay & Ken's children. They loved bowling, being with friends and traveling. They went on a month-long cruise and were married until Kenny's untimely passing on May 12, 1995.
Kay was a loving stay at home mother and wife until her children were raised. She enjoyed the beach and getting a sun tan, so every nice day during the summer she walked or carried her children down to the beaches of Lake Superior to swim and sun bathe. Raising her children was the most important thing in her life.
Kay would get up before dawn and take her boys to their favorite hunting or fishing spots and return at the end of day to pick them up. She was very active in getting the kids to all of their extracurricular activities and practices.
After her children were raised she worked for Dr. Michael Miljour at the Chiropractic Life Center for nine years. She was outgoing and friendly to everyone she met. She loved living in the U.P., the City of Marquette and especially South Marquette. Kay loved her old 1880's Victorian home at 112 Jackson St.
In 1959 she was an extra in the movie Anatomy of a Murder where she met all of the Hollywood stars who played in that movie. She can be seen in most of the courtroom scenes.
Kay had many lifelong friends and continued to make new friends. She loved bowling and played for many years on several teams. In her later years her favorite pursuit was traveling to casinos and playing penny slot machines and cards with the girls.
Kay was adventurous and traveled to many places with her children, grandchildren and friends including; Paris France where she climbed the Eiffel Tower; lit a candle at Notre Dame Cathedral and visited the Palace of Versailles. Kay walked through and saw the horrors of Dachau Concentration Camp, saw the canals of Venice, climbed the Leaning Tower of Pisa (just before it was closed to that activity), tanned on the beaches of Many Caribbean islands, went on a whale watching trip in the Atlantic, marveled at the beauty of the mountains in Alaska, strolled through the ruins of Tulum, white water rafted down the Colorado River, visited the Boston Tea Party vessel and The House of Seven Gables, climbed the mountains in Oahu and visited Pearl Harbor. She also learned to do the hula at an advanced age. She traveled across the United States many times.
She was preceded in death by her Husband, Kenneth W. Hodgins, Jr.; her mother, Agnes V. Demaray; two brothers, Robert Lee and Paul Malmgren; a daughter, Mary Swenor who died during child birth; a grandson, Douglas H. Swenor and granddaughter, Tiffany Carter, and her first husband, James L. Swenor.
Survivors include six children, David Charles "Chuck" Swenor of Soldotna, AK, Thomas Paul & Terry Swenor of Anchorage, AK, James Lowell II & Jolynn Swenor of Alpha, MI, Karen Kay & Jim Versailles of Prairie View, KS, LeAnne Lynn & Kirk Larsson of Marquette, and Douglas Edward & Karen Swenor of Ishpeming. Also surviving are step-children, Chris Gauthier of Marquette, James Hodgins of Dallas, TX, Steve Hodgins of Marquette, and Mike Hodgins of Orlando, FL.
Kay leaves 23 grandchildren, Tonya Swenor of Marquette, Jennifer Wiater of Green Bay, WI, Jacqueline Woods of Copperass Cove, TX, Jason Murdock of Bend OR,, Colby Swenor of Anchorage AK, Willie Swenor of Wasilla, AK, Brittany Melton of Muskegon, MI, Paul Swenor of Marquette, Michael Swanson of Naples FL, Nicole Swanson-Craig of Green Bay WI, Casey Shamblin of Anchorage AK, Brett Shamblin of Bozeman, MT, Treves, Jacob, Benjamin, and Tyler Versailles of Colorado and Johanna (Josie ) Versailles of Kansas,
Melissa Temple of Anchorage, AK, Justin Temple of Reno, NV, Nicole Grim of Marquette, Rodney Swenor of Marquette, Jacob Swenor of Okinawa, Japan and Samantha Regner of Huntsville, AL. Kay also had 28 great grandchildren whom she adored along with many nieces and nephews.
Kay took in whoever needed her help including many of her children's friends and her grandchildren and their friends. The Jackson Street door was always open to anyone. Kay loved and appreciated her neighbors, cousins, bowling and card girls.
Kay's family wishes to extend a special thank you and note of appreciation to the Marquette County Medical Care Facility and their entire staff of caring employees. Kay had a special bond with her caregiver, Cindy Hult, who Kay called "Vicki" from day one.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Marquette County Medical Care Facility Special Needs Unit, 200 Saginaw Street, Ishpeming, MI 49849.
A celebration of Kay's life will be held on Saturday, July 9, 2016 at 11 a.m. in the Canale-Tonella Funeral Home in Marquette with Rev. Leon Jarvis officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning at 10 a.m. until the time of the service. A reception will follow at the Marquette Elks Lodge from 12 noon until 3 p.m.
The Canale-Tonella Funeral Home is assisting the family where memories may be shared at canalefuneral.com
Tributes
"To Kay's family, Extending to your family this heartfelt assurance of deep sympathy. Sincerely, the Marquette Area Public Schools Board of Education and Employees"
"Jimmer and to the rest of the family, I am so sorry for your loss. I enjoyed visiting with your mom at the nursing home. Your mom and mine bowled together years ago and they were so close in the nursing home. She will be deeply missed. Sandy Johnson"
"To all of Kay's children, grandchildren and many family members, I am so very sorry for your loss. Kay was always so much fun to be around. Her laughter would fill the room and put a smile on your face. Many good times were had by all of the south Marquette families on Jackson street!! Thoughts and prayers to all of you! Marcy Johnson (McLaughlin)"
"I miss her so much already, I still have yet to admit she is actually passed on. For as much time as we shared I still could've shared another lifetime with her. Her spirit and life long memories will live with me forever. I am ever grateful for having her in my life. She was the best mother, grandmother, relative, friend and all around wonderful woman. She was simply 'Much too Marvelous for Words'. All my love forever Gram. ~Melissa"