Obituary of Hope Michaelis

MICHAELIS,  nee Griffin UEL, Estella Hope

At the age of 99, Hope walked joyously into the arms of Jesus on October 31st, 2019, just five weeks short of 100! She was the loving wife of Perry Michaelis, deceased 2007.  Hope was the daughter of Orley Burgess Griffin and Mabel Griffin. She was the youngest child and is predeceased by her brothers Alan (Maude Hodge), and Rev. George (Alma Wood), and sisters Ena (Leland Greene), and Evelyn (Robert Clark). Hope was the proud aunt of George Greene (Elaine French), now deceased,  Douglas Griffin (Evelyn McFarland dec.), Joan (Barry Martin), Murray Griffin (Anne Gresko dec.), Ruth (John Gower), Carole (Ted Bower dec.), Donald Griffin (Janice Fixter) and Linda Griffin dec. She is survived by many great-nieces and nephews. Hope became best friends with Keitha Davison at the young age of 12, which began an extraordinary, endearing friendship of love and loyalty. She was maid of honour at Keitha’s marriage to Mike Melnick and when Peter and Marty were born, she became a second mother to them, her “boys”. She became Aunt Hope to Peter’s children, trying not to beat them in Rummikub, and baking scrumptious treats like butter tarts, “sticky” buns and elaborate birthday cakes.  Hope will also be missed by long-time friends, Kathryn and Ron Cornelisse and their family. Hope’s great-great-grandfather, Isaiah Griffin was an Empire Loyalist settler in 1787, from Duchess County, New York, a founding father of Waterdown, becoming a local Methodist preacher and an activist for social change as a Reformer. Hope continued that tradition in her volunteer work, visiting the elderly as a Victorian Order Volunteer and in her local school, helping youngsters learn how to read and as an active member of the Parkdale Pentecostal Church and the Stoney Creek Community Church. She devoted countless hours of service to her church family. Hope began working at Porritts & Spencer Canada Limited in June, 1937 and joined the Textiles Workers Organization Committee.  She retired in 1972. Thank you to all of the staff at the Niagara Ina Grafton Gage Village for their extraordinarily loving care of Hope, you made her happiness and contentment possible. The family will be welcoming people at Donald V. Brown Funeral Home, 36 Lake Avenue Drive, Stoney Creek on Wednesday, November 6th from 7-9 p.m. and Thursday, November 7th at from 9 a.m. until time of the Funeral Service in the Funeral Home Chapel at 11 a.m. Interment to follow at White Chapel Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 1895 Main Street West, Hamilton. Donations may be made in her memory to the United Way Halton & Hamilton. Notes of sympathy and condolence may be made at www.donaldvbrown.ca