April 20 1941 October 21 2022
Lynn Pamela Cram, passed away after a life well lived . Lynn was born April 20, 1941 ( 4/20) and was a loving mother, grandmother , great grandmother, aunt and beloved wife of Sidney Thomas Cram who proceeded her death in 2002. Together for 46 years, Sid & Lynn left Detroit during the riots and moved to Marquette, Michigan where they enjoyed many lifelong friendships and a safe , wonderful place to raise their family. Lynn is survived by her three children, Joseph ( Robin) Cram of Jacksonville ,North Carolina, Sheila aka Shelly ( Paul ) Blesh, of Traverse City, and Christopher Cram of Highlands Ranch, Colorado , her much loved grandchildren, Brigitte, Natasha, David, Jesse, Amanda, as well as 5 great grandchildren, Aiden, Jace, Gabriel, Aubrey and Luca. Lynn grew up in Detroit the daughter of Joseph and Estelle Peters. She was the cherished baby sister of Collette Warell, Thomas Peters and Judith Stanicki. Their childhoods were filled with love for one another and all four remained close throughout their lives. Attending St Ritas in Detroit, and educated in Catholic faith, Lynn was spiritual and prayed daily. She enjoyed the Carmelite Monastery and would light candles for those in need as her faith remained strong throughout her life. My Momma was my best friend, I loved her and will always love her so much. It is hard for me to believe, I will never be able to sit with her, chat about movie stars, tv shows, watch cash cab and wheel of fortune, jeopardy ( we dumb) , and have our annual Kentucky Derby party , discuss politics, hear about her days growing up in Detroit, her Polish heritage, skeet shooting with our Dad , her unending love for her own grandma & grandpa, brother and sisters, her grandchildren and great grandchildren, her nieces and nephews, her loss of my dad and all they shared in 46 years. I will really miss her sense of humor, sometimes embarrassing, inappropriate but also silly. When asking how anyone was, if they replied , “Fine” she 100% of the time said “Hair is fine”…. Whenever a conversation came up where the word “ Ridiculous” was mentioned, she would always follow up with “Nicolas”, she said she didn’t know why she just HAD to. That was silly Lynn. She was superstitious, slightly psychic ( although she would say psycho…and laugh) and loved to read up on dreams and their meanings. As a young girl in Detroit, she attended Art school and was a gifted charcoal pencil drawer, who could draw likeness of people and animals. She could be opinionated about certain artists, just by how they appeared but her eyes were opened once she looked beyond – such as Lady Gaga who she deemed “weird” until she watched “A Star is Born” then never stopped singing her praises. She went to nearly all of my dads running events, (“the only way to get out of town”) and supported him, sometimes sitting on the sidelines griping about all the “healthy, happy people”. She finally quit smoking after 50 years, cold turkey when finally one dr said her veins were affected. She was a cat with more than nine lives, having almost died as a 4 year old -everyone said their goodbyes – with her ruptured appendix, but pulled through, even given last rights, – she was strong and a also survived a collapsed lung (she said from “one pushup”,) cancer of uterus, quadruple bypass, stent in legs, , worst black eye in the history of black eyes from a fall, her latest fall with broken bones in her ankle, and rods drilled through the bones, She suffered from generalized anxiety disorder- tried everything to stop the worry from videos to therapy to her beloved self help book by her always, “Power over Panic”. Try as she might, she could not shake the anxiety and worry, and often told people, “I would not wish this anxiety on my worst enemy”, Then add, “Well….maybe Hitler”. She was the best secret keeper, trusted to the end, she was beautiful , but never saw herself as anything but flawed. I cannot imagine never sitting with her and having a beer and laughing mostly about the past and our lives and trips. I will forever light a candle at the monastery for you my dear loved mom. What will I ever do to fill this hole in my heart…… Rest in peace, free from anxiety and send me a sign as we discussed, a real one…not a cardinal or butterfly, but a thump or a push or a book flying through the air just like we talked about. Thanks for the memories , all the laughs, and the gift of life dear Mom. We love you. Her final time as a resident of Bay Ridge Assisted Living the family will be eternally grateful for. The caring professional staff who protected her and watched over her, made her comfortable and safe. This staff is top notch wonderful, hard working, delightful and, caring. Such a true blessing. Together with Hospice of Michigan, both teams made this last battle one of comfort and compassion. There will be a private family burial next to Sid at St Michaels cemetery in Suttons Bay with no services as Mom wished . Donations in Lynn’s memory would be appreciated to Carmelite Monastery of the Infant of Prague 3501 Silver Lake Road, Traverse City, MI. 49684.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Lynn Cram April 20 1941 October 21 2022.
Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home
Death notice for the town of: Traverse City, state: Michigan