Genevieve House Lemon

On November 23, 2021, in Buckland, Massachusetts, Genevieve House Lemon, life-long follower of Jesus, slipped this Earthly realm into the full glory and loving arms of The Lord. Her last days were filled with continuous expressions of love, Bible readings, tender touches, music made, and hymns sung by her family.

On August 2nd, 1924, Genevieve was born to Harry and Eva House, in Rosebush, Michigan, in the “Red Brick House”. This family home was built by her Great Grandfather; to replace the original log cabin he had built on the 120 acres he cleared by hand for the “House Family Farm”. Genevieve resided in Michigan all her life, she sold her home of 60 years in 2018. She lived her last 4 years with her Daughter and Son-in-law, near her 3 Grandchildren, in beautiful Western Massachusetts.

She had a phenomenal memory! Genevieve could recall long forgotten or never known details of people and connections, which earned her the title of “Official Holder of all History”. She especially loved sharing stories about her beloved State of Michigan.

She was a life-long musician and music lover, getting a Hymnal and sitting at the piano mere weeks before her death. She was always singing and whistling, and from a young age, Genevieve began playing piano in her Grandmother’s Church in Farwell. She continued to accompany for, and sing her fine Alto in all configurations of vocal music. Genevieve’s ability to stay up for special events was legendary! She was remarkably healthy, having always eaten her Mother’s and her own home canned garden produce, and until the end, her arms remained remarkably strong!

An enthusiastic, hardworking student, in a family who believed in he benefits of education, she began at 5 when she stayed with her Grandparents in Mount Pleasant each week to attend “Primer” (modern day Kindergarten, not offered in every school in those days). Her 1st through 8th grade education was in the One Room Schoolhouse that Genevieve and her sisters walked the mile or so to and from each day. She read every book in that Library 4 or 5 times. Her lifelong love of books and reading, made clearly evident in the packed shelves and piles of books in every room of their little house. This passion precipitated her to volunteering to plan and implement a real Library at the small local K-4th grade Pleasant Lake Elementary School! Mrs. Lemon as they called her, was thanked, honored and is still remembered for those 12 years she endearingly would reference it, “Her Library”. She never left to go anywhere without a cloth bag containing book(s), reading material, a word search, and a cross word puzzle.

She told many stories about the hard work and fun times while growing up on the farm. She stood behind the board, her right knee (replaced in her 86th year) pushed hard against it, as she drove the horses for the hay wagon. The family played board games nearly every evening, lit by the kerosene lamps until she was 13 and watched as the poles and wires for Electricity were installed day by day, costing each house on the road $2.50. She was so little when filling the cow water cistern each morning, the pump handle went way above her head, and back down to her feet. She was her Father’s “right hand man” in so many instances. She would go to his Sunoco gas station to open up, and having a cold Coke from the cooler and an Almond Joy candy bar for breakfast. Riding along in the cattle truck packed with animals for the Detroit Stock Exchange. How she was home alone, milking the cows in the morning before High School, when the cow kicked its bucket, spilling the milk and kicking her into the gutter, and yet she cleaned up and made it in time to catch the school bus.

Her Mount Pleasant High School class of 1947 graduated, except for those who had already left to help defeat the Nazis. Genevieve faithfully wrote many letters to cousins and friends every week during WWII. Though always having planned to attend Anderson, the Indiana Church of God College and Divinity School where both her parents attended, her mothers’ ill health and subsequent death, constrained her to stay home, helping with the farm, and working as a Rosebush Telephone Operator.

When she did go out on her own, leaving the Red Brick House her Grandfather built, she proceeded to work in several different jobs for the next few years. This included the front desk in the YMCA, and ultimately, the Michigan State Title Division in 1952, where she met Paul Lemon. They married July 3, 1953, purchased a 15 x 27 foot trailer, sheltering them in Lansing, Bridgeport, and Pleasant Lake trailer parks. In August of 1958, their little family of 3 moved into the sweet cottage on the opposite shore. She and Paul were always grateful for this precious gift. Their own shelter, with beautiful shade trees, yard, and especially their front room and all its windows allowing them to watch the birds and ever-changing water-landscape of Pleasant Lake.

Genevieve was a cherished friend and kept in touch with countless people around the world. She possessed the amazing gift of genuine interest and care, and never met someone she couldn’t engage in conversation, making friends in every circumstance. She also had the “Gift of Helps”, and always seemed to do the dishes when visiting! She taught Sunday School into her 60’s, baked for, volunteered and held offices in many groups, including Manchester “Community Service”, the local State Church of God “Women’s Missionary Society”, PTA, Band Boosters, “Extension”, monthly visits to repair clothing at the State Hospital, and driving the Kindergarteners home at noon each day from Pleasant Lake Elementary School.

She loved to drive, possessing the exceptional knowledge of Michigan towns and roads. She would drive everywhere at anytime, especially to attend family and friends special events, and drove countless people to appointments, meetings, church and the Detroit Airport.

Predeceased by her husband Paul, infant daughter Eva, and younger sisters Gladys and Florence, Genevieve is survived by her daughter Cheryl Hanna and her husband Tony, Grandsons Tam, Tory (wife Susan), Teddy (wife Eliza), Great Grandsons Quinten and Hudson, her sister Betty, Sister-in-law Vonda, and myriads of beloved Nieces, Nephews and friends.

A Memorial service will be held at 11 am Saturday, June 25, at the Mary Lyon Church, located on Upper Road in Buckland, with refreshments and remembering to follow.

A Memorial service will also be held in Rosebush, Michigan on August 14.

Please consider a donation in Genevieve’s name to the: Genevieve Lemon Memorial Fund, care of the Church of God in Michigan, 4212 Alpha Street, Lansing, Michigan, 48910

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