Frieda Ott, R.N.

Frieda Belle Ott, age 94 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 4:32 a.m. on Sunday, July 16, 2017 at West Woods of Niles.  Her family is grateful to the staff of West Woods for their compassion and respect in caring for Frieda.

She was born on October 15, 1922 in Schoolcraft, Michigan and was a daughter of Leonard and Edna (Stark) Ryder.  She was graduated from Hartford (Michigan) High School, and was certified as a Registered Nurse at the Memorial Hospital of South Bend School of Nursing.  She was employed for a few years as a Pediatric nurse at Memorial Hospital, and was always proud of her profession.  She also provided great support and assistance to her husband at Ott’s Trailer Sales.

Frieda enjoyed flower gardening, maintaining her birdfeeders, and feeding the ducks and geese at the river.  She and her husband spent many winters with friends in Arizona and Florida.  Above all, she was a great homemaker and mother.

On June 21, 1947 in Buchanan, Michigan she married Wendell Carl Ott with whom she celebrated the remarkable Fifty-ninth anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on November 21, 2006.  She was also preceded in death by a grandson, David A. Ott in 2009 and a sister, Louella Virgil.

Surviving family includes her sons, W. Carl (& Cathy) Ott of Littleton, Colorado and Michael (& Karen) Ott of Niles; grandchildren Heather (& Scott) Stanley, Stephanie (& Kevin) Derouin, and Elizabeth (& Shawn) Richard; great-grandchildren Katie, Madison, Thomas, Ryder, and Taytum; and a nephew, Edward “Skip” Virgil.

The funeral service for Frieda Ott will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 20, 2017 at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Jim Wing officiating.  Interment will be at Lakeview Cemetery in South Haven, Michigan.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.  Contributions in memory of Frieda may be made to the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan, or to the American Cancer Society.