Hedwig Fornetti

Hedwig "Heddy" Fornetti, 97, of Kingsford passed away on December 22, 2016 at the Dickinson County Healthcare System. She was born October 14, 1919 in Iron Mountain, the daughter of the late Antone and Helen (Pipp) Kassin. She graduated from Iron Mountain High School in 1937. Heddy married Michael Fornetti, Sr. on October 30, 1945. He preceded her in death on June 19, 1983 at the age of 64. Together Michael and Heddy owned and operated the Moon Lake Store and log cabins on North US2 and built the Iron Mountain Motel on Stephenson Avenue across from the Dickinson County Courthouse where she worked behind the scenes cleaning, making drapes, and decorating. She was a caretaker for her father-in-law, Anton Fornetti, who lived with the family. She enjoyed cooking, baking, needle work, shopping, time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren and gatherings at the Fornetti family hunting camp in the Pine Creek area. She was an advocate for her son, Mark, who has a closed head injury from a car accident. She was a woman of deep faith attending mass daily and going to bed with a rosary in her hand. She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church for years until she moved to Kingsford and joined St Mary Queen of Peace. She is survived by four children, Arlene (Reino) Lake of Iron Mountain, Michael (Sue) Fornetti, Jr. of Iron Mountain, Joe (Jean) Fornetti of Breitung Township, and Mark Fornetti of Ann Arbor, Michigan; seven grandchildren Michelle (Rick) Dieckhoff of Splendora, Texas, Amanda (Doug) Benjamin of Olympia, Washington, Katrina Lake of Portland, Oregon, Willa (husband Jeremy Bell) Fornetti of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Tony (Jackie) Fornetti of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Jaime (husband Matt Strutz) Fornetti of Heber City, Utah, and Laura (Mike) Leys of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Heddy’s great grandchildren include: Carly and Bella Dieckhoff; Delaney and Logan Benjamin; Addison and Mason Schinderle; Marin and Amelia Bell; Chloe, Lucy, and Chase Fornetti and Blayke and Jordan Leys ( two month old twins). She also leaves her sister, Jeanette Goffett of Evergreen Assisted Living, a special godchild Heddy Pearson of Kingsford and many nieces and nephews. Heddy was preceded in death by six sisters; Marie Watson, Alma Nault, Helen LeGault, Francis Jermac, Lucy McCole, and Gertrude Miller; two brothers Joseph Kassin and Antone Kassin and son-in- law Michigan State Trooper Carl Lindberg. In celebration of her life, visitation will be held on Thursday, December 29, at the Erickson- Rochon & Nash funeral home in Iron Mountain from 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Fr. Mike Woempner, Fr. Brad Sjoquist, and Fr. Paul Nomellini will offer the Mass of Christian Burial at St Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church at 12:00 noon. Pallbearers will be her seven grandchildren Michelle, Amanda, Katrina, Willa, Tony, Jaime, and Laura. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Heddy’s memory to St Mary Queen of Peace Church. Condolences to the family of Hedwig may be expressed online at ernashfuneralhomes.com We would like to thank Evergreen Assisted Living for the years of concern and care they provided our Mom. A thank you, also, to the nursing staff at the Dickinson County Healthcare System for the compassionate and loving care given our Mom during her final days. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.

Hedwig Fornetti

October 14, 1919 - December 22, 2016