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Obituaries

Elsie Nora (Edwards) Sage

Elsie Nora (Edwards) Sage passed from this earth on October 24, 2022.  She was born in Coldwater Mi on July 8, 1924, to Melvin and Anna (Waldren) Edwards and moved to the Barry County area later that year.

 

Elsie graduated with the Hastings High school class of 1942 and loved to follow the comings and goings of her classmates. She was one of the last members of her class to pass away. When asked, "What do you do if you are the last one?", she would say, "I guess you shut off the lights."

 

She married her high school sweetheart Russell Keith Sage on New Year’s Day of 1944, and they were married for 69 years until his death in 2013. Her real passion was music, and she shared her gift of music for 45-years as a Thornapple Manor volunteer, entertaining residents with the piano, organ, and sometimes the accordion.  A regular contingent of Barry County area musicians was always on hand as she played the piano or organ for the Friday afternoon cavalcade of song and merriment.  It's hard to say who had more fun– the residents or the musicians! In addition to entertaining at Thornapple Manor, she played at Tender Care, Barry County Commission on Aging, Hastings HI Nooners, and provided music for the Kiwanis travel series.  She provided music for weddings, even playing the old pump organ at Charleton Park.

  

In August of this year, she donated a Steinway grand piano plus furnishings for the lounge in the new Harvest Pointe Assisted Living facility located on the campus at Thornapple Manor. She dedicated the piano and furnishings to those musicians who for dozens of years filled Thornapple Manor’s halls with the sound of music, and to future musicians who will continue to bring the magic of music to the Thornapple Manor community. 

 

She served on the Hastings High School Alumni Board for over 70 years sending out invitations to her class. She was a member of the Barry County Historical Society and a member and an organist for the Hastings Chapter of the Eastern Star.

 

She told many a story to anyone that would listen about growing up in the depression and living through WWII.  She was not one to complain so when asked how she was doing would usually respond with an energetic, "I'm fine."! And she was too. At the age of 98 she was still playing her piano. Her love of music and her volunteering spirit was passed on to her family. 

 

Elsie was preceded in death by her husband Russell Keith Sage, January 27, 2013, and two brothers and two sisters.  Surviving are her daughters, Cindy Winters (Rand), Lola Tyler, Joyce Sage, Jackie Barwin, and Janice Mascho (Doug). Grand children Todd Sattler, Renae Sattler, Grace Marvin, Laura Potter, Rebecca Barwin and great grandsons, Kolby Sattler and Wyatt Sattler.

 

A private witness burial was held Friday, October 28, 2022, at the Hastings Township Cemetery.

 

Many people knew her and were touched by her music and stories. Please feel free to leave condolences, memories, or stories of Elsie on the Girrbach Funeral Home page at www.girrbachfuneralhome.net

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