Elsie A. Cronk

Elsie A. Cronk was a "Pure Michigan" lady. She was born in Royal Oak, Michigan on May 16, 1916 to Thomas and Florence M. (nee: Stieger) Hickey. She was baptized in the Shrine of the Little Flower, also in Royal Oak. She was adopted and raised by Joel Edward Urenn. She grew up with four sisters (Irene, Elizabeth, Florence and Helen), and two brothers (Harold and Richard), between Lapeer, Dearborn and Detroit. When on the farm she attended a one room schoolhouse and in town she attended Holmes school and finally Fordson High School, when it was brand new. It was BIG and SCARY for her, coming from a one-room schoolhouse and small schools that she was used to attending. She was living at her parent's house on McGraw at the time she got married. She was married in the Lutheran Church on August 3, 1935. She bought her first home in Dearborn in 1940. Her three children were all born in Detroit, Beverly in 1937, Judith in 1943, and Richard in 1945. Elsie was a wife, mother and homemaker. She tried working outside of the home once for Peoples Outfitting, but that only lasted three days. She quit because she just couldn't leave her daughter. She never tried again. She was an exceptional homemaker and took great pride in having a spotless home. She was also a great cook and no one ever went hungry in her home. Her next “job” was shopping, at which she excelled and did until she was 100 years old. She was a professional bargain hunter. She LOVED shoes the most, but jewelry of all kinds took a close second. All of Elsie’s outfits matched from head to toe and she was always in heels. Elsie only left Michigan twice later, when her husband, Bud Cronk's job with GM took them to Cleveland Ohio in the 40's and again to St. Louis, MO in the early 50's, for two years. After that, it was back to Michigan to stay. Her 5 grandchildren (Michael, Patrick, Bridget, Kelly, and Christopher), and four great-grandchildren (Benjamin, Jessica, Shannon, and Ashleigh), have all been raised in Michigan. Elsie lost her son, Richard in 1965, in the Vietnam War, her grandson, Michael in 2000, and her husband Bud in 2005. Through all of this, she has remained a strong woman. Her son & husband are buried in Glen Eden Cemetery, where she also will rest. So, from start to finish, she is and always will be a Pure Michigan lady!

Family and friends may visit on Friday, June 4, 2021 from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Harry J. Will Funeral Home, 37000 West Six Mile Road, Livonia, Michigan 48152. Visitation continues at the funeral home on Saturday, June 5, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral at 11:00 a.m. Procession to Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park for interment will immediately follow the funeral.

Those wishing to donate in memory of Elsie may do so at Alzheimer's Association 225 N. Michigan Avenue Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois 60601 (www.alz.org); or Residential Hospice 5440 Corporate Drive Suite 400, Troy, Michigan 48098 (www.residentialhealthcaregroup.com).

Please share a memory of Mrs. Cronk or condolences with her family at her online guestbook below