Elizabeth May Halme

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - On Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, 2022, our amazing mother Elizabeth May Halme passed away in the comfort of home beside her loving family in Port St. Lucie.

Our mom was an inspiration to many throughout her 89 years. She served as an incredible mentor and role model both personally and professionally throughout her life and will always remain a hero to her daughters. We will miss her presence and daily example of someone who continually lived her best life, embracing each moment through good times and challenges. Following her sudden diagnosis of cancer in August 2021, and subsequent death, she was at peace and looked forward to reuniting with our dad, her beloved husband, Ben Halme, who proceeded her death 12 years prior.

Elizabeth was born on May 1, 1932, to Carl and Signe Nelson in Ironwood, Michigan. After completing St. Luke's School of Nursing in Marquette, Michigan, to become a registered nurse, she began her accomplished health care career at Grand View Hospital in Ironwood. She was a distinguished, dedicated, inspiring RN and health care executive for almost 50 years at several hospitals and skilled nursing and rehabilitation health centers. While working full time and raising four daughters, she returned to college in her 40s and 50s to achieve a bachelor's degree in nursing from Alverno College, and a master's degree in educational leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

She enjoyed many hobbies and volunteer activities before and after her retirement, touching the lives of everyone she served. Elizabeth was blessed with many talents including painting, sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, and many other arts and crafts. She was a gifted cook and baker who received great pleasure from entertaining and cooking for her family, friends, and colleagues, as well as many churches she belonged to over the years in Michigan, Wisconsin and Florida.

Our mother and father also shared many joyful moments following their retirement at their homes and cottages in Florida and Michigan. Panama City Beach, Florida, and Lake Gogebic, Michigan, were two of their favorite destinations due to their love for lakes and oceans. Mom loved domestic and international travel, and our family created lasting memories when she traveled to France, Monaco, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands with her daughters when she was in her late 80s.

Our mom was a woman of deep faith who was comforted during her short cancer journey by her belief in everlasting life, a solace to us during this time of great loss. She was very active in her church circles, Bible studies and outreaches at All Saints Lutheran Church in Wakefield, Michigan, and Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Along with family and friends, a special thanks to Chaplain Sue Bailey at Elmbrook Church, who provided prayer and spiritual support during mom's brief cancer battle.

She is survived by her four daughters, Bee Halme (Jim Ridder), Kathleen Halme (John Kuzma), Sara Hamm (Bryan Hamm) and Maia Halme (Laura Landergott). GiGi (Elizabeth) was also the loving grandmother to Arielle Ridder and August Ridder, and her two great-grandchildren Mekenzie and Keelan. Her beloved dog, Belle, was at her side throughout her entire cancer journey and death. Elizabeth is also survived by one brother, Jim Nelson, of Iron Mountain, Michigan. She was preceded in death by her siblings Kathy Richards, Carla Nunnemaker, Bobby Nelson and Jack Nelson.

Mom passed away peacefully while under our care in Port St. Lucie, Florida. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the wonderful team at Vitas Hospice of the Treasure Coast who assisted our family with Elizabeth's end-of-life hospice care. The kindness and compassion of the Vitas team, as well as our friends and family members will never be forgotten.

Elizabeth was cremated on Feb. 18, and our family is planning a celebration of her beautiful life during the summer of 2022 in Wisconsin. Her final internment will be with our beloved father, Ben Halme, in Bessemer, Michigan.