Obituary: Rogene O’Brien, 87, of Ludington.

Rogene O’Brien

Obituary: Rogene O’Brien, 87, of Ludington.

Rogene Marie O’Brien, 87, of Ludington went home to be with her Lord on Sunday, November 7, 2021 after a short illness. She was born February 11, 1934 to Edmund and Leona (Mantych) Petzak. She was raised in Ludington and attended St. Simon School through the eighth grade. She graduated from Ludington High School in 1952.

In 1956, she married the love of her life, Gerald R. O’Brien. She worked many part time jobs over the years including the Electric Tamper and Equipment Company and K-Mart. Her most important job/career was being a stay-at-home wife and mother to her husband and six children. Her family was her life right up until the end! Throughout her life she enjoyed many hobbies and interests including golfing, gardening, theater (especially musicals), dancing, dining out, traveling, bowling, playing cards, and time with her family and friends. A special memory Rogene always carried was her trip to Poland in2011 to see and experience a bit of her ancestry.

Rogene was devoted to her faith and spent many hours in prayer, especially for her children and grandchildren. Rogene was a kind, selfless soul, that was, by nature, a caregiver. She always put everyone else’s needs ahead of her own. Before their passing, she was diligent in caring for her mother, sister, and then her husband. She loved without ceasing. Rogene could also be a feisty four foot eleven inches when the need arose! Her grandchildren knew if they stepped too far out of line they would be met with her favorite threat…sitting on them! She was as involved in her children and grandchildren’s activities and events as she could be. Family was everything to her and because of that fact; she has left a huge void in her family’s lives. 

Rogene O’Brien

She will be greatly missed by her children, Timothy O’Brien, Tina Silver, Cynthia (Tim) Aberegg, Laura Budreau, Kristine (Dale) Parker, and Brenda (Jeff) Lindenthal; her grandchildren, Nathan (Kristine) O’Brien, Katey (John) VonSprecken, Emilee O’Brien, Logan (Jade) O’Brien, Rob Silver, Melissa Silver, Jacob Aberegg, Casi Kadrovach, Ed (Erin) Aberegg, Brandon Budreau, Nichole (Kenny) Long, Blake Budreau, Char Kraus, Tyler Kraus, Josh Lindenthal, and Nick (Melissa) Lindenthal; her numerous great-grandchildren; her sister, Joyce (Duane) Bogus; her brother, Ronald Petzak; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Besides her parents, Rogene was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald; her brothers, Ted Petzak, Richard Petzak, and Gordon Petzak; her sisters, Dolores Larson, Barbara Darlene, and Alice May; and her first grandson, baby Brad Nash.

A graveside service will be held Monday, November 15, 2021 at 2:30 p.m. at Pere Marquette Catholic Cemetery. A Mass from the Order of Christian Funeral s will be held on Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 2 p.m. at St. Simon Catholic Church with Rev. Wayne B. Wheeler, Jr. presiding. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. at the church.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington, www.oakgroveludington.com.