Mildred M. O'Parka

Mrs. Mildred M. O’Parka, 84 of Ruth, passed away Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at Harbor Beach Community Hospital.

Mildred was born on December 5, 1934 in Paris Township to the late Walter and Martha (Helewski) Hammerle. She married Irvin O’Parka on August 30, 1958 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Smith Corners. He preceded her in death on December 25, 2014.

She was a graduate of the Maurer Country School and attended Sts. Peter & Paul High School until the 9^th grade. Mildred raised her children until she went to work for Minden City Wire, later known as Harbor Beach Wire for seven years. She was a Christian Mother for many years and was the Mama Ruth Festival Queen in 2004. Mildred was a member of the Sno Goers snowmobile club and former member of the Daughter’s of Isabella of Bad Axe. She enjoyed visiting with friends and family, tending to her flowers, watching Wheel of Fortune, The Price is Right and playing Euchre and other card games.

Mildred is survived by eight children, Michael O’Parka and his wife, Elizabeth of Virginia Beach, VA, Irvin O’Parka Jr. and his wife, Sunny of Texas, Kimberly Dorsey and her husband, Gary of Texas, Charlene Hanson and her friend, Brian Smalley of Bad Axe, Pauline Messing of Ubly, Nancy Peruski of Ubly, Renee Wrubel and her husband, Jerry of Ubly, Tracy Hessling and her husband, Ken of Harbor Beach; 15 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; her siblings, Jeanette Danielski of Ubly, Jerry and Rose Ann Bullock of Ohio, Elaine Varosi of Sandusky, Rod and Darlene Gornowicz of Ubly, Elwood and Marlene Hammerle of Bad Axe, Kenneth Hammerle of Ruth, Gary Hammerle and his friend Wanda, of Caro; one sister-in-law, Barbara Hammerle of Holland, MI, two sisters-in-law, Bernice Navock and her husband, Alvin of Utica, Mary Ann Halifax and her husband, John of Minden City.

She was preceded in death by an infant son, Walter, son-in-law, Randy Peruski, three brothers, Harold, Wayne and Frank Hammerle, two sisters, Ardis Wrubel & Delores Talaski.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 am Saturday, April 6 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Holy Apostle Parish in Ruth. Rev. Christopher Coman will officiate. Burial will be in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Parisville.

Visitation will be at Zinger-Smigielski Funeral Home in Ubly on Friday from 1:00-8:00 pm and Saturday from 10:00-10:45 am at the church only. There will be a rosary by the Holy Apostles Christian Mothers Friday afternoon at 4:00 pm and a parish vigil service at 7:00 pm. Both services will be at the funeral home.

Memorials have been requested to be directed to the Family Discretionary Fund, care of Charlene Hanson.