Luella E. Hershey

Luella E. Hershey, of Lansing, died December 16, 2010 in Lansing, MI. She was born in San Antonio, TX on June 14, 1920 to Erwin Albert Rode and Henrietta (Edelmann) Rode.

Lu and her parents moved to California shortly after her birth and she was raised in various California cities, as her father was a Lutheran minister. After WWII, she met and married Benjamin E. Nichols and they moved to Michigan, living first in Mt. Pleasant and later moving to Lansing where she taught at Pattengill Junior High. She was widowed in 1971, and in 1973 she married Harold Hershey, acquiring an instant family of four stepchildren and three grandchildren, soon to add two more grandchildren.

In addition to being predeceased by her parents and husbands, she also lost her younger brother, Hubert Rode. Lu is survived by her stepchildren, Paul, John, David and Janet (Robert Felter) Hershey, and her daughter-in-law, Betty (Michael) Mulcrone. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Mark and Katherine Hershey, Mary (Michael) Rutledge, Elizabeth (Chad) Canfield, Robert (Cali) Sackrider; seven great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Abigail Rutledge, Margaret Bellant, Grace and Erin Canfield, Samuel and Lillian Sackrider; one brother, Erwin (Jayne) Rode; one sister, Lois Rode Elias; two nephews, David Rode and Alan Rode; three nieces, Jennifer Fairfax, Brenda Veltman, Julie Kovacic; also three grandnephews and seven grandnieces. In addition, she is survived by numerous nieces and nephews by her marriages.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, December 27, 2010 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 549 E. Mt. Hope, in Lansing with Pastor James R. Lichtenberger officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Capital Area Humane Society. Arrangements by Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel.