Mildred Elizabeth Gravina

Mildred Elizabeth (Novello) Gravina Lansing Mildred was born October 25, 1917 in Lansing, Michigan, to Nunzio and Angela Novello. She passed away April 23, 2010. After graduation from Lansing Central High School, she began work at Lansing Dry Goods Company, where she became a payroll supervisor. On October 24, 1942, she married Carl Joseph Gravina at Holy Cross Church in Lansing. After the birth of her first child, she became a stay-at-home mom, taking pride in caring for her family. She loved to cook and was known for her spaghetti and meatballs and lasagna dishes, chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon rolls. After her children were grown, she took on part-time positions with the State of Michigan during tax season, worked registration at MSU and as a precinct chairperson for City of Lansing elections. Mildred was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Carl; brothers, Joseph and Benedict as infants, and Dominic; and sisters, Julia, Josephine and Anna. She is survived by her daughter, Elena (Bill) Keller; sons, Joseph and Thomas (Margarete); two grandchildren, Jason (Charity) and Nicole; one great-grandchild, Jacob; and one brother, Benedict (Floramae) Novello. The family would like to thank the caregivers at the Ingham County Medical Care Facility. The Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, April 26, 2010 at St. Mary Cathedral with Fr. Bernard Reilly as celebrant. The Rite of Committal will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Sunday at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel with the Rosary to be prayed at 7:00 p.m., and from 9-10 a.m. at the church on Monday. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.