Obituary

Shirley Ann "Sugar" (Cutler) Firovich

May 7, 1935 ~ March 6, 2022 (age 86)

 Shirley Ann “Sugar” Firovich, 86, of East Jordan, walked on Sunday, March 6, 2022, at Grandvue Medical Care Facility.

  She was born on May 7, 1935, in East Jordan, the daughter of John and Elna Winnie (Jones) Cutler.  After graduation from East Jordan High School in 1953, she moved to Sparta where she attended business school and worked as a keypunch operator.

  On January 14, 1969, in Plainwell, Michigan, she married Algert Mathew Firovich.  They moved to Minnesota where they lived for thirty-three years.  They owned and operated a sawmill for a short time.  She also worked as a mail person in a local general store.

  In 2000, they moved to Mancelona, Michigan, and then to East Jordan in 2012.

  Shirley was a proud member of the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians.

  When Shirley was a young girl, her brother, Bob, gave her the nickname “Sugar” when he was trying to comfort her.  As the story was retold through the years, many family members continued to refer to her as “Aunt Sugar”.  Shirley was “at home” at Grandvue M.C.F.  She loved everyone there and everyone there loved her.  They took excellent care of her and took every measure to keep her comfortable during her final days.

  She is survived by one daughter, Marsha Elaine Crawford of Kalkaska; one grandson, John Allen Anderson of Kalkaska; as well as several nieces and nephews, including Lori Gee and Vicki Dougherty, both of East Jordan.  Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Algert; her parents; eleven brothers and sisters; as well as one infant brother.

  Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 11, 2022, at 12:00 Noon, at the Penzien Funeral Homes, Inc., East Jordan.  Pastor Daniel Swank of the Ontario Street Baptist Church, 812 Ontario Street, East Jordan, MI will officiate.  Spring burial will be held in Sunset Hill Cemetery, East Jordan.  

  Visitation will be held on Friday from 10:00 A.M. to service time at the funeral home.

Memorial may be directed to Grandvue Medical Care Facility, 1728 S. Peninsula Road, East Jordan, Michigan 49727.