Elizabeth Curnew

Liz was born on Aug. 18, 1948, in Camden, N.J., daughter of the late Thomas Curnew and Beth (Savage) Frost. She was a graduate of Traverse City High School class of 1966, and later attended nursing school at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, Mich., attaining her license as a licensed practical nurse (LPN).

Liz met her husband, Ralph Stallman, at a dance in Maple City, Mich., through friends of close relatives and were married in July of 1967. Together Liz and Ralph raised four children, Heidi, Todd, Michelle and Janet. Liz made a career as a loving homemaker and LPN at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, while residing in Suttons Bay, Mich. She was known for her devotion to her family and her Catholic faith and her kindness to her patients.

She would later divorce and relocate to the Iron Mountain area. She worked at Florence Villa Nursing Home until her own retirement in 2011. Liz was a proud member of St. Mary and St. Joseph Catholic Church of Iron Mountain. She avidly crocheted most of her life and gifted a crocheted Christmas stocking to each of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also enjoyed playing bingo and having coffee and donuts with her close friends. She lived a humble life but always found ways to help out her family and friends when any need arose. Liz and her sisters, Janet, Donna and Jill, made a game of watching “The Voice” from different corners of the country together by phone. Liz was the bookkeeper of their singer choices each season and they enjoyed watching the competition together devotedly.

Along with several family members, Liz was in a tragic train accident at the age of seven, losing her beloved sister Kay in the accident. Breaking numerous bones and in a full body cast, she was not expected to walk again, yet overcame the tragedy to live a fulfilling life. Along with her close friendship with her sisters and her brother, Jay, whom she proudly boasted to have often been seen toting around town on her bike, Liz enjoyed an enduring special closeness with her grandmother, Helen Savage, who nursed her throughout her convalescence; and Linda Ritola, her lifelong best friend.

She is survived by her four children, Heidi Van Slooten, Todd (Windi) Stallman of Harrison Township, Mich., Michelle Thompson of Muskegon, Mich., and Janet (Timothy Waite) Maycroft of Iron Mountain; her siblings, Janet Plamondon of Naples, Fla., Donna Frost, of Baton Rouge, La., Jay Frost of Lake Ann, Mich., and Jill Humanchuk of Interlochen, Mich.; and siblings, Arthur Curnew, Isaac Curnew, John Curnew, Liz Curnew, Joseph Curnew, Michael Curnew, Shawn Curnew, and Jamie Curnew, all of Camden, N.J.; as well as 10 beloved grandchildren and seven treasured great-grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, Liz was preceded in death by her sisters Katherine Kay Frost, Catherine Curnew; and her brother, Thomas Curnew.

The family will hold a Rosary and service in Traverse City, at the time of burial later this year, to be announced at a later date.

Condolences may be expressed to the family of Elizabeth Curnew online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.