Dayna Marie Edwards

One of this world’s brightest lights has been extinguished. Dayna Marie Edwards, 57, of Lansing, passed away peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by loved ones on February 20, 2024. She had been actively and fiercely battling Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia since 2014.

Dayna was born in Grand Rapids and spent a portion of her childhood living in South Haven. Her family moved to DeWitt when she was in middle school and had called the Lansing/DeWitt area home ever since. Not only a devoted wife and mother, Dayna’s talents extended to the arts. She loved to sing and act. She was on-camera talent for several commercials and videos, and an on-air personality for Lansing radio stations, 101.7, Mike FM and 89.7 WLNZ FM where she was also co-host of the popular morning show, The Coffee Break for several years.

Later in life, Dayna earned her BA in Professional Communication and her MA in Organizational Leadership. She took her talents to a Fortune 500 company where she founded and managed what became an extremely busy media department. She also realized a life-long dream and became a Communications Instructor for Lansing Community College—a position she was so successful at a student was heard one day leaving her classroom, “She’s the best teacher ever!”

Ultimately the progression of her disease forced her to stop working altogether.

She has also supported her husband’s dream of writing, and has spent countless hours with him creating the characters that populate his books, and helping to weave the intricate plotlines. It was a process that has worked so well for them that they have even written a book together based on a character and story idea from Dayna herself. Her husband is currently working on getting it published.

Dayna’s passions included walking in nature, dancing, biking, reading, painting (especially rocks she hunted for along the great lakes coastlines), doing anything with her loving husband—especially traveling, visiting wineries, and food/wine paring excursions.

Dayna was preceded in death by her father, Daniel Ostrom, and her younger brother, Chad Ostrom. She is survived by her husband, Rob Edwards, her son, Adam Hedlund, her daughter and son-in-law, Amanda Hedlund and Omar Kandah, her bonus-son and daughter-in-law, Evan Edwards and Savannah Heyward, her bonus-daughter, Morgan Edwards, her bonus-mom, Sarah Arminio-Ostrom, and her birthmother, Valentina Karpenko.

Visitation will be held in the Michigan Room at Lansing Community College on March 2, from 11 am-1 pm, followed by a “Farewell Celebration,” beginning at 1 pm. Please come prepared to share a thought, or perhaps a quick story about Dayna. (If you have something to share but prefer not to speak, please write it out and someone will be on hand to read it.) Per Dayna’s wishes, please do not wear black for the occasion. Colors are preferred. “I have enjoyed every aspect of my life, so please make it a celebration, not a funeral!” Dayna has said.

In lieu of flowers, Dayna has asked that you please donate to the “Dayna Marie Edwards Fresh Start Endowed Scholarship” through the Lansing Community College Foundation to support veterans and those coming back to school later in life, as they begin the process of achieving their dreams, just as she was able to do. You can do so at the following link:

https://www.lcc.edu/foundation/givenow/dayna-edwards.html