Lydia Miriam Pruneski

Lydia Miriam Pruneski (Schultz) was called home a little before 2am, Friday 16 August. She passed peacefully in the company of family and with wonderful care from hospice staff nurses. Lydia was humbled by the outpouring of love and prayers from her family and friends. You all made a difference in her peaceful passing.

Lydia was born on April 28, 1946 in Detroit, Michigan. Her family moved to Mt. Clemens, Michigan where she graduated from Mt Clemens High School in 1964. After high school, she was employed by the Sheffield drafting company, supporting planning and maintenance activities for the automotive industry. Lydia met and married James C. Pruneski in May 1965. They welcomed James Daniel in 1966 and Christopher Matthew in 1967.

Together they embarked on a career in two states and three countries supporting the automotive and truck industries. Lydia earned a degree in Accountancy from Walsh College in Troy, Michigan. She used her degree to assist James in assessing and planning financial controls for two international companies. Their success working together guiding those companies enabled them to retire early to Houghton Lake, Michigan.

Lydia had many artistic interests to explore while retired. She had an avid interest in sewing, knitting, and cross-stitching and cooking was her greatest skill. Lydia and James actively participated in historical re-enactment of clothing, tools, and camp life for early northern fur traders. They eventually returned to one of their business assignments to re-acquaint with their friends in Glasgow, Kentucky. There Lydia continued her crafting excellence and they turned their re-enactment activities to the pre-revolutionary hunting party genre.

Lydia and James made their final retirement move to Madison, Alabama to be near and support their son James Daniel. Lydia continued to craft and support her community with her time and talents. She continued supporting her community through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Madison and St. John the Baptist outreaches. Some of the crafts of which she was most pleased were quilts for new mothers to welcome their babies.

Lydia was ever the consumate spouse, mother, grandmother, friend, and servant. She is a person who would never complain but always be quick to recognize the needs of others. She is survived by her husband James, son and daughter-in law Christopher and Angela, daughter-in-law Sandy, sister and brother-in-law Heidi and Ron, grandchildren Alex, James, Christina, Katherine, and Anna, and a host of incredible extended family. Not the least to mention are the wonderful friends that gave her love, comfort, and perspective. She held you all in her daily thoughts and prayers.

In lieu of flowers, Lydia would have said to make a donation in her name to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.