Return to Station Listings
|
Rovena Alean Nitz
Born: 2/6/1931
Died: 7/5/2024
Age: 93
Community: Celebration of Life at Grace Community Christian Fellowship, Flint, MI
|
Nitz, Rovena Alean, received her Ultimate Independence from this world and into the loving arms of Jesus, on July 5, 2024 at the age of 93. She had been a resident at Swank Assisted Living in Swartz Creek, MI for the past two years.
She was born to the late William and Dorothy (Mancour) Groves on February 6, 1931, in Goodrich, Michigan. She was the third oldest of seven children. Rovena was a 1949 graduate of Bendle High School. She worked on the Class Reunion Committee for the Class of ’49 for many years. Up until COVID, several graduates continued to meet monthly for lunch.
In the late 1940s, Rovena worked at Jordan’s Clothing Store. She married James Cech in 1950 and gave birth to two sons, James and Gary Cech. While the children were young, she was a Den Mother at Lincoln Elementary and was active in school projects and the P.T.A.
The Cech family managed several small town one-screen movie theaters from 1959-71. First in Elsie, then Flushing, and finally Holly, Michigan. Rovena was the pleasant lady selling movie tickets on the weekend. For recreation, Rovena loved ice skating (and was very good) and would go as often as she could, often bringing her sons.
When the children were older, Rovena went back to school at Mott Community College eventually earning her Associate's Degree. She also apprenticed under a well-qualified wall paperer/interior painter and soon branched out on her own utilizing close friends to work with her. She did this successfully for many years. She was very precise and known for doing an excellent job. Her business thrived by word of mouth and her work ethic inspired her sons. In 1968 Rovena supported son James in his enlistment into the military which developed into 22 years in the Navy and 23 years in civilian Naval service.
Rovena went on to work as a Maintenance Clerk at Buick City for nearly 11 years. It was there that she met her second husband, Ken Nitz. They married in 1981 and enjoyed a loving and happy marriage for 27 years. They routinely did home improvement projects together, worked in their garden, and enjoyed traveling with their church. It was Ken who gave her the loving nickname “Rev.”
Rovena’s faith was very important to her, and with her young sons, she would walk every Sunday from their home to South Baptist Church on Saginaw Street. She knew it was important to instill faith in Jesus in her young sons and she lived out her faith daily. She and Ken became long-time members at Emmanuel Baptist Church and they often went to Fenton Road Baptist Church on Wednesday nights as well.
Rovena and Ken involved themselves in the church with Senior luncheons and various trips; several summers with Emmanuel friends driving to Gitche Gumee Bible Camp in the Upper Peninsula. She also involved herself in skits, acting, and the puppet ministry. She took clogging lessons, played the autoharp, and was an avid player of Skip-Bo and Rummikub. She was also a part of The Red Hat Society and achieved K.O.P S. status in T.O.P.S. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly.) She was a devoted caregiver after Ken experienced a stroke and continued to keep him active in the church and the community.
Rovena and Ken were “Charter Members” of Grace Community Christian Fellowship when her son, Pastor Gary, and daughter-in-law Luanne planted a church in their home in 2006. An active participant from the very beginning, Rovena agreed to become one of the first deaconesses when GRACE moved from meeting at VanY Elementary to the current building on Davison Road. She headed up the cleaning committee, ran several church rummage sales, and participated in sewing for Sundresses for Haiti children. As a child of the great depression, Rovena was a lifelong recycler of anything that could be repurposed. She faithfully attended the Women’s Bible Study and Monthly Ladies Birthday Luncheons. She was active until her medical condition began to limit her abilities.
Rovena loved her family. Times were never more enduring than when they could all be together, playing games or dancing to the tune of their cuckoo clock. She had housed a few of her grandkids over the years as they navigated young life into adulthood. She even housed her adult son Gary and his family when they returned from Nevada to Michigan for seminary. Twice!
Rovena never met a “stranger.” To her, they were only “Pre-Friends”, striking up conversations wherever she went. Her wonderful stories drew you in and you always felt the warmth of her personality and strength of her faith through her laugh that instantly made you smile.
She is survived by sons James (Tina) Cech and Gary (Luanne) Cech. Grandchildren Christina Cech Robbins, Amanda Cech, Elizabeth Cech (Steven) Lockwood, James T. (Jessica) Cech, Joshua Cech, seven great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by sisters Linda Fullerton, and Alberta Oxford, sisters-in-law Joy Groves and Grace Groves, and brother-in-law John VanY.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Ken Nitz as well as first husband, James Cech, parents William and Dorothy Groves, sisters Juanita Cech (and brother-in-law George), and Jane VanY as well as brothers Lawrence Groves and Bill Groves.
Visitation will be at Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Flint, MI from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Friday, July 19th . Saturday July 20th visitation will be at Grace Community Christian Fellowship, 3707 Davison Road, Flint, MI 48506 (one block West of Center Road, right next to McDonald's) 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm followed by a “Celebration of Life”. Pastor Gary Cech officiating. Dinner will follow Service. The interment will be private with the family at Crestwood Cemetery at another time.
In lieu of flowers, tax-deductible donations may be made to “GRACE” (Grace Community Christian Fellowship, 3707 Davison Road, Flint, MI 48506). The family would like to thank Swank Assisted Living in Swartz Creek for their loving care of Mom these past two years and Heart to Heart Hospice for their compassionate care these past 15 months. We would also like to acknowledge and thank Wells Fargo financial planner Deron Hackney for his forty-plus years of excellent financial support to Mom and the estate.
Your condolences may be shared with the family at swartzfuneralhomeinc.com
|
Copyright © 2024 Direct Obits, LLC
| Visitation |
| Date: |
|
7/19/2024 |
| Time: |
|
5:00 PM |
| Visitation will be at Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Flint, MI from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Friday, July 19th, 2024. |
|
|
| Funeral Service |
| Date: |
|
7/20/2024 |
| Time: |
|
3:00 PM |
| |
| Location: |
|
Grace Community Christian Fellowship
3707 Davison Road
Flint, MI 48507Get a Map to this location...
|
| Official: |
|
|
|
Return to Station Listings
|
|
