Mabel Mary Lenda

Mabel M. Lenda passed away peacefully April 4, 2026 in Timberline Lodge, surrounded by family and friends. She was born May 3,1930 in Lake Township to Cyril and Hazel (Herzog) McIlhargie. She graduated from Elkton High School in 1947. She married Harry Lenda on June 9, 1956 in St. Felix Catholic Church in Pinnebog and cherished fifty-four years of marriage before Harry’s passing on July 11, 2010.

After graduating high school, Mabel began working as a clerk at the Polewach Store in Pigeon where she eventually met her husband to be. After marriage, she joined Harry and worked at the Cass City IGA which they owned and operated for forty years until their retirement. Mabel was a caring mother and grandmother, always attentive to her family's needs. She adored her grandchildren and was very proud of their accomplishments. Over the years, Mabel enjoyed sewing, gardening, cooking, and baking. She was always clipping out new recipes from magazines and newspapers. Mabel was a faithful member of St. Agatha Catholic Church in Gagetown for many years. She was a member of St. Agatha’s Women’s Society, involved in helping prepare meals for many events at the church. Mabel also helped with the food pantry, Coats for Kids giveaway at the local school, and helped sew for the “little dresses” project.

Mabel is survived by her daughter, Deborah (Kevin) Israelson of Cass City; daughter-in-law, Cathy Lenda of Harrisville; grandchildren: Chelsea (Gavin) Mills, Cole (Samantha) Israelson, Brett (Jennifer) Lenda, Mathew Lenda, Joeseph (Jamie) Lenda; great-grandchildren: Mark, Maxwell, and Asher; siblings: Marlene (Guy) Schram of Montana, Linda McIlhargie of New Mexico, Bradley (Diane) McIlhargie of Kinde, Gloria (Dave) Cobb of Suttons Bay; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Gregory; siblings: Riley Thiel, Frances Armbruster, Leo, Frank, Richard, Conrad, Aloysious, and Janice McIlhargie.  The family would like to extend a special thank you to Mabel's special care givers:  Sandy, Penny, Tammy, Barb, and the staff of Timberline Lodge.

Funeral mass 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 9, 2026 in Our Lady Consolata, Gagetown with Fr. Robert Pare officiating. Interment will be held in St. Agatha Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Our Lady Consolata. Visitation: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, 2026 in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City

Visitation: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, 2026 in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City 

                10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday, April 9, 2026 in Our Lady Consolata, Gagetown

Arrangements by Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City