Ellen Mary (Barr) Trosvig

MARQUETTE — Ellen Mary (Barr) Trosvig, age 96, of Marquette, entered eternal life Thursday, July 26, 2018, at the Marquette County Medical Care Facility where she resided for the last three weeks. The family wishes to express their appreciation for the exceptional care she received from the staff.

Ellen was born Sept. 5, 1921, in Defiance, daughter of John D. and Mathilda (LaBresh) Lusardi. She was raised in Defiance until the age of six.

Following her parents’ deaths, Ellen lived with foster parents (Gaudette’s) in St. Nicholas. She met Andrew Raymond Barr in Bark River and they married at St. George Catholic Church on May 10, 1941.

Ellen and Andy made their home at the Barr family farm where they raised their family of four children.

Hours on the farm were long and sometimes hard, but through it all the children learned the value of hard work and close family ties. As the years went by, the children married and moved away, but they often returned to assist Ellen and Andy with the care of the farm on weekends.

In 1963, the farm was sold and they moved to Marquette, where Ellen was employed with Montgomery Ward for five years and later ShopKo for fourteen years.

With the passing of Andy in 1983, Ellen retired in 1984 and she married Ernest Trosvig, making their home in Marquette. Ellen and Ernie enjoyed traveling and spending time with the family, especially Ernie who through their marriage finally had step-children and step-grandchildren.

Ellen loved her family and cherished time spent with her children and grandchildren. A people person, she enjoyed her friends and outings at the Big Boy. Ellen was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Nancy (Ken) Hammerberg of Baraga; three sons, James (Sharon) Barr of Escanaba, Robert (Bonnie) Barr of Skandia, and Andrew (Linda) Barr of Marquette; her grandchildren, Jeff (Lori) Barr, Steve (Kathy) Barr, Todd (Ronda) Barr, Jennifer (Bernie) Stanaway, Alison (Ernie) Burch, Ben (Jen Tonge) Barr, Laura (Steve) Cicholski, and Jim (Kate Allen) Hammerberg; great-grandchildren, Kristina Barr, Andrew Barr, Justin Doron, Lindsay Doron, Jessica (Brandon) Good, Nicole (Caleb) Rhodes, Nichole Mackey, Jacob Mackey, Anna Burch, Travis Burch, Trent Lyyski, Cayden Lyyski, Chelsea (Dakota) Rayfield, Cody Hein, Destiny Stanaway, Jack Stanaway, Ryan Cicholski, Allison Cicholski, Heather Cicholski, Rebecca Cicholski, and Greer Hammerberg; great-great grandson, Ivan Good (and two on the way); and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husbands, Andrew Barr and Ernest Trosvig, Ellen was preceded in death by her sisters, Celia Kodanko and Amelia Grzybowski; brothers, Adelore and Andrew Lusardi; and great-grandson, Taten Hammerberg.

Friends may call at St. Michael Catholic Church on Monday, July 30, from 10 a.m. to noon. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon with Rev. Greg Heikkala, pastor, as celebrant. A reception will follow in the Parish Center. Burial will be made in the Bark River Township Cemetery on Tuesday at 11 a.m. with Ellen’s grandchildren serving as escorts.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may directed to the St. Michael Catholic Church Memorial Fund, 401 W. Kaye Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855 or directed for mass intentions.

The Fassbender Funeral Home is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderfuneralhome.com