Lena Marie Stringer

Lena Marie Stringer, 97, of Benton Harbor, passed away on Sunday evening, October 1, 2006, at her home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, October 7, 2006 at the First Baptist Church, 902 Broad Street in St. Joseph with Pastor Marlo Fritzke officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens in Coloma. Visitation with the family will be held between 5:00 and 8:00 P.M., Friday evening at Kerley-Starks 5& Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to the church. Those wishing to send the family a message of condolence may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com. Lena was born on July 5, 1909 in Turner, Michigan to Charles E. & Ida Martin. On May 25, 1935 she married Frederick E. Stringer in South Bend. Together they were blessed with a son, James. She was a longtime member at the First Baptist Church of St. Joseph. Lena enjoyed crocheting and working in her flower garden. She also was known for her passion of attending local rummage sales. Lena is survived by her son, James (Alicia) Stringer, Sr. of Benton Harbor; 6 grandchildren, Maria Christina (Ernest) Khaw, James F. (April) Stringer, Jr., Michael S. (Karen) Stringer, Matthew J. Stringer, Theresa Marie Stringer, and Jennifer Melissa (Bobbie) Simmons; and by 14 great-grandchildren, Nathan, Hannah, Rachel and Lydia Khaw, Emily and Ethan Stringer, Josiah, Abigail and Anna Stringer, Michael, James, Zachary and Alexander Stringer, and Alisha Stringer Scales. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Frederick “Fred” E. Stringer; and by her brothers and sisters, Ethel, Elsie, Berlin and Floyd.