Aileen Rist

RIST, Aileen
Portage Aileen Rist, age 84, passed away on January 1, 2015 at Rose Arbor Hospice Residence. She was born February 13, 1930 in Detroit, Michigan to Leo and Myrtle Brandenburg Cote of Detroit, Michigan. Aileen worked as a secretary for the Chrysler Company and the YMCA in the Detroit area. She was married to James York of Detroit, Michigan and had Daniel York of Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and Carol Lew Evans of Racine, WI. Later, Aileen married Walter Rist children Andrew Holly Rist of Kiev, Ukraine & Audrey Edwin Curry of Portage, MI on May 5, 1966 and combined their families. Walter is a German immigrant from Lodz, Poland. Aileen left the working world at that time to raise her family where she enjoyed cooking and baking, sewed Halloween costumes, served as a Girl Scout leader, and attended abundant musical concerts for her children and grandchildren. A long time Detroit Metro area residence, Aileen moved to Kalamazoo with her husband, Walter, in 2003. Camping and traveling around the world was a passion for her. Aileen was very involved with First Presbyterian Church of Mt. Clemens where she was a member of the hand bell choir and served as elder. She later became a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Portage. Aileen was a member of the Sigma Alpha Sorority Epsilon Gamma Chapter of Detroit for over fifty years. In Kalamazoo she was active with the Alzheimer's Association. She is preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Alexander Cote, Patricia Metro Gazdik and Charmaine Robert Vogler. Aileen is survived by her other siblings Leon Bernadine Cote, Yvonne Gerald Boelstler and Paul Carol Cote along with her husband, children, ten grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Aileen's family would like to thank her doctors, nurses, and all of the medical personnel who cared for her during her illnesses, including the staff at Bronson Hospital, Rose Arbor Hospice and especially Ann Okon. The family will receive friends and family on Monday, January 5, 2015 from 6-9:00pm at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 S. 9th St., Kalamazoo. A funeral service will take place on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1515 Helen St., Portage at 2:00pm with Pastors Gerald and Janet Duggins officiating. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service and immediately following the service with fellowship and refreshments. Interment will occur at Fort Custer National Cemetery sometime in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church, Alzheimer's Association Southwest Region, and Rose Arbor Hospice Residence.