Saint Ann of Frankfort Catholic Church

06/16/2026

Kay Hommel Obituary

Kay Elizabeth Hommel passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at her home in Frankfort, Michigan. A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, June 29, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Ann Church in Frankfort, followed by burial at Crystal Lake North Cemetery.

Born on January 21, 1936, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Florence (Powlison) Franzel and William Marion Dawson, Kay later moved to Detroit. After the loss of her father when she was just a year old, she was lovingly raised by her wonderful mother and devoted stepfather, Ray Labute, whose guidance and care helped shape the remarkable woman she became.

In 1955, while working at General Motors, Kay accepted a ride home from a young coworker named Joseph Hommel. That simple act introduced her to the love of her life. They were married on September 14, 1957, beginning a beautiful partnership that would span 68 years and create a large, loving family. Together, Joe and Kay raised five children in Farmington Hills, building a home filled with laughter, warmth, and unwavering love.

Even while raising her family, Kay pursued her lifelong love of learning. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History from the University of Michigan in 1987 and later served as Gallery Director at the KC Larson Art Gallery. She had a deep appreciation for beauty, creativity, and history, and she shared those passions generously with others.

Kay was also a gifted and graceful figure skater. Her children fondly remember the crowds that would gather to watch her skate, and her performances at Novi Ice Arena reflected both her talent and her joy. She and Joe shared a love of travel and adventure, exploring countries across nearly every continent. Wherever they went, Kay delighted in learning about the people, traditions, and histories that made each place unique.

A wonderful cook and gracious hostess, Kay loved bringing family and friends together around her table. In 1991, she and Joe moved to “the Bluffs” in Frankfort, a place Kay affectionately described as “a kinder and gentler place to live.” There, she embraced community life wholeheartedly and gave generously of her time and talents.

Kay volunteered at the Paul Oliver Hospital gift shop, helping it flourish and even organizing a golf tournament to support it. She played an important role in establishing the Point Betsie Lighthouse gift shop during the lighthouse’s restoration. An avid reader and lover of history, she was deeply involved with the Benzie Area Historical Society and chaired the committee that published Shared Moments: A Journey Through Time in 2007, preserving the stories and heritage of Benzie County for generations to come.

In later years, Kay devoted herself to genealogy, lovingly creating two treasured family books filled with photographs and stories dating back to the 1800s. She was also an active and devoted member of P.E.O. Chapter FF, serving in numerous roles and cherishing the lifelong friendships she shared with her P.E.O. sisters. Together, they published the Forever Friends cookbook as a fundraiser.

Kay’s faith was reflected not only in her words, but in the way she lived—with humility, kindness, compassion, and quiet service. At St. Ann Church, she contributed her talents to renovation efforts as a member of the altar committee. She believed deeply in giving back and often said she was simply returning some of the blessings she had received through a wonderful life.

Above all, Kay was a devoted wife, an extraordinary mother, grandmother, and great- grandmother, and the heart of countless family gatherings. Her home in Frankfort was a place where laughter flowed freely and love was abundant. She had a gift for making everyone feel welcome, valued, and cared for. Her gentle spirit, warm smile, and generous heart touched many lives, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Kay is survived by her beloved husband of 68 years, Joseph Palmer Hommel; her five children, Susan Lunte, Diane Doran, Joseph (Jeanine) Hommel, Mark Hommel (Ann Kummler), and Douglas Hommel; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Craig Lunte, and by her brother, William Earl (Bill) Dawson, and his wife, Grace (Hillstrom).

Her legacy of love, faith, curiosity, and generosity will live on in the hearts of her family, friends, and the Frankfort community she cherished so dearly.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Ann Church, P.E.O. Chapter FF, or the Benzie Area Historical Society. Arrangements by Jowett Family Funeral Home of Benzonia. jowettfamilyfuneralhome.com

06/16/2026

Timothy Robert Klein Celebration of Life 06/27/2026 11am

Timothy Robert Klein, age 76, passed away on February 5, 2026. Tim’s life was defined by connection — his greatest purpose was building meaningful relationships with people. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, teacher, athlete and most knew him as “Coach”. Above all, he was a proud father and grandfather, finding his greatest joy in his family.

Tim is survived by his loving wife, Kateri; his three children, Derek (Irma Colunga), Kyle (Sarah), and Kateri (Andrew) Schutt; and his “Great Eight” beloved grandchildren — Caroline, Carson, Michael, Alex, Allison, Anna Jane, Claire, and Gretchen — who were a constant source of pride and happiness. He is also survived by his sisters, Christine (Jim) Vella and Phyllis (Jim) Okun, as well as numerous sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews.

Tim was an accomplished athlete from a young age, he was an All-State performer in football, basketball, and baseball at Niles High School. He went on to play football and baseball at Western Michigan University, where his passion for sports deepened and naturally led him into a lifelong career in education and coaching at Portage Central High School, Frankfort High School, and Roscommon High School. Over the course of his career, Tim coached baseball, basketball, football, skiing, tennis, and track & field. Over the course of his coaching journey, Tim was inducted into the Michigan High School Coaches Hall of Fame for both football and baseball. Highlights of Tim’s coaching career included having his daughter in track and advancing to the football state championship game five times including winning twice while coaching his boys. He developed many close relationships with colleagues around the State of Michigan. It led to him continuing coaching football in his retirement at Saginaw Heritage, Elk Rapids, and Onekama. Tim always loved spending time with former students and players, reliving memories and sharing stories from years past.

Tim was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Bette Klein, his daughter-in-law Christina Klein, and nephews Christopher Houk and Scott Lagoni.

His family will remember him for his huge smile and his gift of storytelling. His life was filled with love, laughter, football, golf, and memorable travels, especially cherished trips to Hawaii, Florida, Orange Beach, and Dallas. No one was ever a stranger to Tim.

In Memoriam, donations may be made to Lockhart Field by making checks payable to City of Frankfort, PO Box 351, Frankfort MI 49635, designate Lockhart Field- in memory of Tim Klein.

There will be a Celebration of Life honoring Tim will be held on Saturday, June 27th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Ann Catholic Church. Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation one hour prior to the Mass. Following the service, all are welcome to continue sharing memories and celebrating Tim’s life at the Frankfort American Legion Hall.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Jowett Family Funeral Home of Benzonia.

05/25/2026

Come and Join Us at 2:00 pm on May 31st, 2026.

05/25/2026

The Most Holy Trinity May 31st, 2026

05/18/2026

On May 17, 2026 on the Feast of the Ascension, the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation were bestowed on Lillian Stejskal, daughter of Steve and Amanda Stejskal, and Parker Randall, daughter of Josh and Mary Lynn Randall. Bishop Jeffrey Walsh celebrated the Mass at 10:30am at Divine Mercy Parish in Manistee, Michigan.

In the Catholic Church, Confirmation and Holy Communion are often celebrated together as part of the Sacraments of Initiation, especially for those who have not yet received both. This is done to strengthen the connection between Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, which together form the full initiation into the Christian life.

The sacraments are typically celebrated at the same Mass, often on a Sunday—especially during the Easter Season—to emphasize the Paschal Mystery and renewal of baptismal promises.

Confirmation seals the baptized with the gift of the Holy Spirit, strengthening them for mission and service to the Church.

Holy Communion nourishes the soul with the Body and Blood of Christ, deepening their union with Him and the Church.

Together, they mark a decisive step in the journey of faith, deepening baptismal grace and calling the recipient to be a witness of Christ in the world.

Congratulations to Lillian Stejskal and Parker Randall.

05/04/2026

May 24, 2026 Pentecost Sunday

05/04/2026

When Is Pentecost 2026 and Why Does the Date of Pentecost Change Every Year?

Pentecost in 2026 will be observed on Sunday, May 24. Many people ask why the date of Pentecost changes each year and how it is determined. The answer is directly connected to Easter, which is explained in Why Does the Date of Easter Change Every Year?

Pentecost always occurs fifty days after Easter Sunday. This is why its date changes every year. Since Easter itself does not have a fixed date and is based on the lunar calendar, Pentecost also moves each year.

Easter is calculated as the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. Once the date of Easter is known, Pentecost is simply counted forward by fifty days. This places Pentecost on a Sunday, seven weeks after Easter.

The name “Pentecost” comes from a Greek word meaning “fiftieth,” reflecting this exact timing.

In the Bible, Pentecost was originally a Jewish feast known as the Feast of Weeks, as explained in the post What Is the Feast of Weeks in the Bible? It was celebrated fifty days after Passover and was associated with the harvest. This explains why many people from different regions were present in Jerusalem in Acts 2.

For Christians, Pentecost took on a deeper meaning.

It became the day when the Holy Spirit came upon the followers of Jesus, which is clearly explained in What Happened on Pentecost? Acts 2 Explained in Simple Terms. This event marked the beginning of the spread of the Christian message. It was not planned by human effort. It began with divine action.

Understanding the date helps place the event in context. Pentecost is not an isolated moment. It follows the resurrection of Jesus and continues the sequence of events that began at Easter.

That is why the date changes, but the meaning does not.

Each year, Pentecost reminds believers of the same event recorded in Acts 2. It marks the moment when fear turned into boldness and when a small group became a growing movement.

Pentecost 2026 falls on May 24, but its significance remains the same every year.

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05/04/2026

May 17, 2026 The Ascension of the Lord

05/04/2026

When Is Ascension Day in 2026 and Why Does the Date of Ascension Change Every Year?

In 2026, Ascension Day falls on Thursday, May 14, in places that keep the traditional Thursday observance. In Australia and in some other places, the liturgical celebration is observed on Sunday, May 17. That difference does not mean Christians are unsure what happened. It means the Church is applying the same biblical event within local liturgical practice.

Scripture is clear that after his Resurrection, the risen Christ appeared to his disciples for forty days and then was taken up into heaven. The Ascension is not a poetic ending added later. It is part of the Gospel itself.

The date changes every year because Ascension Day is tied to Easter, and Easter does not have a fixed date like Christmas. Easter is calculated as the first Sunday after the Paschal full moon following the spring equinox, which means Easter can fall anywhere from March 22 to April 25, as explained in the post Why Does the Date of Easter Change Every Year?

Once Easter moves, the whole chain of related feasts moves with it. The Ascension is celebrated on the fortieth day of Easter, or in some places on the following Sunday. So the date changes, not because the event is uncertain, but because the Christian calendar follows the Resurrection.

That matters more than many people realize. The Ascension declares that the ministry of Jesus did not end in defeat, confusion, or legend. The same Jesus who was crucified and raised entered heavenly glory as Lord. He did not vanish into myth. He ascended bodily, reigns now, intercedes for his people, and will come again.

The Ascension is the public vindication of the One many rejected. It tells the world that the cross was not failure and the Resurrection was not a private spiritual feeling. Christ is King, and heaven received him because earth could not hold him.

So if you are asking when Ascension Day is in 2026, the short answer is May 14, or May 17 where the feast is transferred to Sunday. But the better question is why Christians still celebrate it so carefully. The answer is simple: because the Ascension completes the saving work openly revealed in Scripture and points every believer toward the hope of heaven.

The date may move on the calendar, but the truth behind it does not move at all.

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03/25/2026

Easter Sunday April 5th, 2026 10AM