Elsa Jessie Sutherland of Huntington Beach, Calif. passed away peacefully December 31, 2012 at Fountain Valley Hospital in California, following a long illness. She was 86. Elsa was born Ailsa Jessie Montgomery Renwick on September 16, 1926 to James and Jessie Renwick in Utica, Michigan. The youngest of four children, she was predeceased by her brothers Douglas, George, and Walter. She lived most of her life in Mt. Clemens, Michigan before relocating to California in 2006. She was the widow of Donald Sutherland, who passed away in 1986. She is survived by her son Walter (Carol) Sutherland, and her daughter Sandra Sutherland. She had three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by son-in-law John Linde, and grandson Justin Sutherland. She attended Utica High School and Macomb County Community College. In 1945 she began work at Mt. Clemens Pottery Company the same year she married Donald Sutherland. She stayed with the company until it closed in 1987. At that time, recently widowed, she started her own business and remained self-employed until 2006 when she moved to California. Elsa loved to travel and accompanied Sandra on many trips to England, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy. She was very active in her Church, the Assembly of God, and taught Sunday school for 30 years. She was also interested in gardening, reading, crafts, and photography. She leaves behind an extensive collection of photographs that document friends, relatives and travel experiences. Elsa loved animals, especially cats, and gave a home to a number of them in her lifetime. Elsa will be honored at Heritage Memorial Services in Huntington Beach, California on Tuesday January 8, 2013 at 3:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held at noon on Friday, January 11, 2013 at the William R. Hamilton Co.-Mount Clemens. She will be entered into rest at Cadillac Memorial Gardens East in Clinton Township. www.williamrhamilton.com
Published in The Macomb Daily on Jan. 9, 2013 -