Obituary for Lona Jean Crispigna (Markell)
Iron Mountain- Lona Jean Crispigna, 91, of Iron Mountain, Mich., passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, September 1, 2021, at St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay, Wis., with her children at her side.
She was born August 16, 1930, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the daughter of the late Gail and Fern Markell. Her Marching orders started as a High School Majorette at IMHS, where she was a graduate of Iron Mountain High School, class of 1949, where she also met James “Philly” Crispigna. They married on July 11, 1953, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Iron Mountain. They were married 61 years before he passed away on August 1, 2014. Lona and Philly owned and operated Crispigna’s Italian Market for over 50 years. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, a member of Pine Grove Country Club, SECOLA, and an Avid Bridge player, also a lifetime member of the Paisano Club.
As for those who knew Lona, both family and her dear friends, she was extremely loyal, adventurous, and stylish. Her active lifestyle is an understatement, her early years of daily calisthenics, and later as a Silver Sneaker participant and, of course, her daily summer swims at Spread Eagle lakes. Her legacy to all who knew her was a Zest for living, ready for adventure at any given moment, and her mindfulness.
Lona always had a sense of duty to her family and her community. She came from a family of entrepreneurs and understood hard work, starting with Markell Roofing Co., Lona as a business owner herself, was always on top of new trends; starting with Ms. Lona’s Boutique and Marketing new items at Crispignas store in the ’70s, U bake em Pizzas, Box lunches and Gift Boxes for the holidays which continues today. Her compassion as the “Bus Lady” with the Greyhound bus service and her support at the Oscar G Johnson VA Medical Center as a volunteer from 2015-2020 are one of many.
Her grandchildren and all of their activities kept her strong and focused on what mattered most. In their words, here is how that was measured: “Cousins are my best friends, and you have instilled the importance of Family, Support, Connection, and Love. Her grandchildren will continue to share and pass forward her light.
Survivors include five daughters, Sue Ellen Hosking and her children, Dr. Kate (Joe), Erik (Rachel) and Carlyn, Mary Ann (Steve) Flaminio and their children, Kaylie (Steve), Sydney (Jake), and Alexie (Ben), Jeanne (Tony) Newberry and their children, Ryan, Samantha (Brandon), Brittany (Kevin) and Michaela (Ben), Patricia Crispigna-Savarin and her children, Lauren (Tyler), Marco and Michael, and Barbara (Steve) Crispigna-Scheibe and her children, Adam (Miranda), Nathan (Courtney), Abby (Tristan) and Charlie; ten great-grandchildren, all her dear friends; her brother, Robert and Ann Markell; sisters-in-law, Sandy Markell and Bernie Crispigna; and many nieces and nephews and extended family. As well as her beloved canine friend HAPE.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Gail and Fern Markell, her in-laws Oreste and Tomaidi Crispigna, her husband James Phil Crispigna; siblings Leighton Markell, LaVaughn (Ward) Alquist, in-laws Alfred Crispigna and Kathleen (Ernest) Bond; and son-in-law Robert Hosking.
Visitation will be Monday, September 6, 2021, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron Mountain, Mich. Prayers will be recited on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. The Funeral Mass will be Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Iron Mountain. Msgr. James Kaczmarek will officiate. Entombment will be in Cemetery Park, Iron Mountain, Mich.
Donations in Lona's name may be made to either Immaculate Conception Church, 500 Blaine Street, Iron Mountain, Michigan 49801 or Almost Home Animal Shelter, Iron Mountain by visiting their website https://www.almosthomeanimalsheltermi.com/
Masks are requested and will be provided to those that need one.
You may leave a condolence or tribute for Lona’s family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com.
The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Iron Mountain, Mich., to honor Lona’s legacy of life.
She was born August 16, 1930, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the daughter of the late Gail and Fern Markell. Her Marching orders started as a High School Majorette at IMHS, where she was a graduate of Iron Mountain High School, class of 1949, where she also met James “Philly” Crispigna. They married on July 11, 1953, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Iron Mountain. They were married 61 years before he passed away on August 1, 2014. Lona and Philly owned and operated Crispigna’s Italian Market for over 50 years. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, a member of Pine Grove Country Club, SECOLA, and an Avid Bridge player, also a lifetime member of the Paisano Club.
As for those who knew Lona, both family and her dear friends, she was extremely loyal, adventurous, and stylish. Her active lifestyle is an understatement, her early years of daily calisthenics, and later as a Silver Sneaker participant and, of course, her daily summer swims at Spread Eagle lakes. Her legacy to all who knew her was a Zest for living, ready for adventure at any given moment, and her mindfulness.
Lona always had a sense of duty to her family and her community. She came from a family of entrepreneurs and understood hard work, starting with Markell Roofing Co., Lona as a business owner herself, was always on top of new trends; starting with Ms. Lona’s Boutique and Marketing new items at Crispignas store in the ’70s, U bake em Pizzas, Box lunches and Gift Boxes for the holidays which continues today. Her compassion as the “Bus Lady” with the Greyhound bus service and her support at the Oscar G Johnson VA Medical Center as a volunteer from 2015-2020 are one of many.
Her grandchildren and all of their activities kept her strong and focused on what mattered most. In their words, here is how that was measured: “Cousins are my best friends, and you have instilled the importance of Family, Support, Connection, and Love. Her grandchildren will continue to share and pass forward her light.
Survivors include five daughters, Sue Ellen Hosking and her children, Dr. Kate (Joe), Erik (Rachel) and Carlyn, Mary Ann (Steve) Flaminio and their children, Kaylie (Steve), Sydney (Jake), and Alexie (Ben), Jeanne (Tony) Newberry and their children, Ryan, Samantha (Brandon), Brittany (Kevin) and Michaela (Ben), Patricia Crispigna-Savarin and her children, Lauren (Tyler), Marco and Michael, and Barbara (Steve) Crispigna-Scheibe and her children, Adam (Miranda), Nathan (Courtney), Abby (Tristan) and Charlie; ten great-grandchildren, all her dear friends; her brother, Robert and Ann Markell; sisters-in-law, Sandy Markell and Bernie Crispigna; and many nieces and nephews and extended family. As well as her beloved canine friend HAPE.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Gail and Fern Markell, her in-laws Oreste and Tomaidi Crispigna, her husband James Phil Crispigna; siblings Leighton Markell, LaVaughn (Ward) Alquist, in-laws Alfred Crispigna and Kathleen (Ernest) Bond; and son-in-law Robert Hosking.
Visitation will be Monday, September 6, 2021, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron Mountain, Mich. Prayers will be recited on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. The Funeral Mass will be Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Iron Mountain. Msgr. James Kaczmarek will officiate. Entombment will be in Cemetery Park, Iron Mountain, Mich.
Donations in Lona's name may be made to either Immaculate Conception Church, 500 Blaine Street, Iron Mountain, Michigan 49801 or Almost Home Animal Shelter, Iron Mountain by visiting their website https://www.almosthomeanimalsheltermi.com/
Masks are requested and will be provided to those that need one.
You may leave a condolence or tribute for Lona’s family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com.
The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Iron Mountain, Mich., to honor Lona’s legacy of life.