Violet Fell

Violet Fell was a woman with some spunk. She knew how to have fun and she had a great sense of humor; she was always saying the funniest things. Given a soft-heart in life, Violet was generous to all and always loyal. She loved her family dearly and she always had a special place in her heart for her children, grandchildren and her great grandchildren! She was a woman that could be looked up to, a woman of distinction.

The year was 1917, and the world was in an upheaval. In the throes of World War I, the world called on America for aid, and answering the call of duty, our nation entered the war. Times had changed for everyone. Young men were overseas in battle and the tension was solid everywhere you looked. However, for one family in Grand Rapids, Michigan, there was a hopefulness in the air and it came in the form of their new baby girl, Violet, on January 21st of that year.

Lloyd and Eleanor (Hannon) Centilla were completely taken with their second child. Violet was one of five children in the family. She had three brothers and a half-sister and loved and cared for them all. It was a total devastation when the family lost first their young baby boy, Jack and then their 8-year-old son Bob.

Later on, Lloyd and Eleanor were divorced. Violet’s mother took up all her strength then and started working on her own to support her children. She got a job at a factory and did her best to make a good life for her kids. Perhaps it was this hardship that formed a strong relationship between Violet and her mother, they were very close. Violet helped her out whenever she could.

When Violet would finish with school each day, she’d come home and keep the household running smoothly until her mom came home from work and could take over. She knew how to get things done, right from the start.

After graduating high school Violet spent two years in college. She then went to work as a secretary at R.C. Allen Business Machines in Grand Rapids. As fate would have it, it was here that Violet met her future husband John "Jack" Fell who worked in the finance department, in 1944. He was handsome, hardworking and the man of her dreams. They began dating, but waited two years to get married because Jack had been drafted into WWII, and they waited until his safe return. In February of 1946 the two were finally wed.

The new couple began their life together in Grand Rapids. It wasn’t long before Violet became pregnant and they began their family with a baby girl Janis, who they called Jan, in 1947. A few years later in 1951 a beautiful baby boy, Robert- “Bob,” joined their group. They had a good childhood. They were well cared for and had a pretty traditional upbringing. Their father was working as a salesman for Visi Records to support them, and Violet had retired from R.C. Allen to take up her dream job- a homemaker. Because Jack never really felt suited as a salesman he soon took a job at Stryker Corporation and in 1960 he moved his family to Kalamazoo.

The family was dedicated in their faith and attended St. Monica Church every Sunday. They loved to visit family and often vacationed to New Jersey to visit Jack’s family there. They also took vacations in California and Wyoming and once rented a camper to take up north.

Jan and Bob really had it made. They had wonderful parents who loved them and a wonderful home to grow up in. Violet and Jack loved to do things with their children; they were always playing with them, taking them sledding or going on trips to places such as the zoo! Violet enjoyed playing golf, so she’d take them to the country club with her while she golfed and let the kids swim in the pool there.

When the kids were grown up and in high school, they needed her less, so Violet went back to work. She had several jobs including working as a secretary to Dr. Lake, as well as to the Bishop of Kalamazoo. She also held positions at Jacobsons Department Store and Morrison’s Jewelers. Violet also did some volunteering throughout her life.

Violet was an amazing cook. She always had snacks waiting for the kids after school and she was famous in her family for her prime rib and roast and potatoes. Bob was a huge fan of his mother’s meatloaf, and Jan simply loved her leg of lamb meal. While Violet could cook up a storm- her baking was a different story. It was a family joke that her birthday cakes, though always given the best try possible, were not entirely successful. She did make up for it though by throwing fantastic birthday parties for them all growing up!

Violet also loved to play Bridge. She played it all her life and she always got so much enjoyment out of it. Jack often played with her. Monday night was always Bridge night for Violet. It was something she made sure to get in, as a treat to herself.

In the late seventies, Violet and Jack got a divorce. Violet kept on though, she continued to work hard and make her life the best she could. She focused on her children and her own responsibilities and was truly a woman of perseverance.

Violet kept on golfing, winning trophy after trophy and of course Bridge remained a favorite pass time. She enjoyed playing with her best friend Elsie who was one of the ladies she took a cruise with later on in life.

One of Violet's favorite pets was a Lhasa Apso dog named Tia. Tia came from a Iranian family and when she first became a part of the Fell family, she didn’t understand any English! Though the language barrier proved to be challengeing it didn't stop Tia & Violet from becomming wonderful companions. They went everywhere together, including a weekly trip to the park to feed the ducks. Sadly, Tia died in 2003.

Violet had a special friend; Wayne Holiday. The two took his travel trailer all over New England, as well as Mexico and Alaska and spent their winters in Florida. They very much enjoyed each other’s company and he was right by her side and helped her when she had a stroke. Unfortuntely, Violet would once again suffer the loss of a loved one when Wayne died in 2006.

On June 25th, Violet fell and broke her hip and had to undergo surgery. Though the surgery went well, a couple of days later, she took a turn for the worse and had to be put on life-support.

She was a wonderful person who gave generously to others and truly cared about the people in her life. She was very loyal and always supportive. Always saying something that cracked someone up, Violet lived life to its fullest, she was a spectacular woman who will be greatly missed.

Violet was preceded in death by three brothers and a sister. Surviving family members are: her two children: Robert (Kathryn) Fell of Portage, Janis (Kurt) Lutz of Pinehurst, NC; four grandchildren, two great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may spend time with Violet’s family on Monday, June 30, from 6-8 p.m. at Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Kalamazoo, 6080 Stadium Drive, 375-2900. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, June 31, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Monica Catholic Church with a luncheon immediately following. Interment Mt. EverRest Cemetery.

Please visit Violet’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, order flowers or make a memorial contribution to the American Heart Association or the American Lung Association.