Ethel Ella Pagels

Ethel Ella (Berent) Pagels died peacefully on October 12, 2019. She was born in Flint, Michigan, March 12, 1922, to Julius and Martha (Brandenburger) Berent. Ethel graduated from Northern High School in 1940 and then completed an associate degree in business administration at Baker College.

She married her high school sweetheart, William “Bill” Pagels in 1944, before moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where Bill was stationed as an officer in the Navy. There they had their first son, Robert (Bob) Pagels in 1945. They returned to Flint at the end of WWII where Ethel became a true partner to Bill during his career at Buick Motor Division. They added three more children to the family, Nancy, Donald “Don” and Patricia “Patti”, before moving to Grand Blanc, Michigan, in 1964.

In the 1960s and 1970s, she was a successful Avon Lady and became active in the community such as serving on Grand Blanc’s Election Board, acting as the Chairperson for many years. She also volunteered with many organizations, including the Grand Blanc Garden Club, which entailed a term as president.

She was a faithful and active church member, starting as a child at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Flint and then for 45 years at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Grand Blanc. In addition to participating in various committees, she was one of the founders of the “XYZ Group” for senior members and sang in the church choir for many years.

With the blessing of a long life comes the reality of being preceded in death by many in her family, including her husband, son-in-law, Timothy Lynch, parents, brother, Allen and his wife, Ruth, sister, Thelma and her husband, Francis Schiestel, brother-in-law, James Pagels and nieces, Susan Bedford (and her husband, Doug) and Mary Pagels.

She will be missed by those who remain including her children Bob (Kay) Pagels, Nancy Lynch, Don (Kathleen Collins) Pagels and Patti (Craig) Pagels-Croner; grandchildren Kayla (Wayne) Parrott, Shannon (John) Pagels-Beyer, Bridget Pagels, Meagan (Connor) Morley, Bill Croner, Aaron Croner and Jacqui (Dr. Hayes) Merritt; great grandchildren Zackary Parrott, Cameron Parrott, Avery Parrott, Mackenzie Croner and Auden Merritt; and sister-in-law and cousin, Ollie Pagels, and her family.

The family appreciates the long and loving friendship of Frances Cuthbertson, Harry and Jane Wagner and Ellan Meyer. Further, many thanks to the staffs of Family Docs Clinic, Abbey Park and The Med Team as well as The Oaks at Woodfield and Heartland Hospice. Their support will always be remembered.

Visitation and funeral services will be held at Hill Funeral Home in Grand Blanc. Visitation will be Thursday, October 24, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. and again on Friday, October 25, beginning at 10:00 a.m. followed by the service at 11:00 a.m.

Tributes may be shared on the obituaries page at www.hillfh.com. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to First Congregational UCC, Heartland Hospice or the Grand Blanc Senior Center.