Tina Schelstraete, 50

Christine “Tina” Dudasko Schelstraete, born Sept. 14, 1964, was surrounded by her loving family as she passed peacefully into the loving arms of our Lord, on Nov. 30, 2014, from complications related to lung cancer.
Married to Dave Schelstraete for 12 years, Tina reveled in being a mom, not only to her children, Paul (12), Luke (11), John (10) and Rachel (8), but to all the neighborhood children, and the soccer and T-ball teams she coached.
Tina was very active with her spiritual family at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in White Pigeon. She frequently participated in Mass, taught Sunday school and gave instruction to children in preparation for altar serving. Fortunately, her past experience as an executive secretary at Upjohn gave her great organizational skills, which she put to use helping to organize and instruct at religious weekend retreats.
Tina’s sense of humor, infectious laugh and zest for living influenced almost everyone who met her. Her passions varied from hunting (when she could stay awake), fishing, riding her purple dirt bike, knitting, reading, gardening and especially, sharing her life on Lake Wahbememe with her family and friends.
Tina loved bright, vivid colors (especially purple and orange) and she, along with her daughter Rachel, recently participated as models in a fashion show to benefit cancer survivors.
Tina was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Ann Dudasko Engstrom; her father, Frank Dudasko; and stepfather, Walter Engstrom. Tina will be forever be missed by her siblings, Steve (Nancy) Dudasko, Bonnie (Billy) Bechek, John Dudasko, David (Jacqulyn) Dudasko and Ann (Mike) Oldenberg, along with hordes of beloved nieces and nephews, neighborhood kids and entire children’s sports teams.
Tina’s life will be celebrated on Thursday, Dec. 4, with a visitation from 3-7 p.m., followed immediately by a short service and rosary at 7 p.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 16603 U.S. Hwy 12, White Pigeon. Her funeral service is at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at the church, and will be followed by a short service at St. Edward’s Cemetery in Mendon. Following the services, Tina’s friends and family are invited back to St. Joseph Church in White Pigeon, for a luncheon graciously hosted by the Ladies of St. Joseph and the Lake Wahbememe Association.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either Schelstraete Children’s Trust Fund, c/o Sturgis Bank & Trust, 122 W. Chicago Road, White Pigeon, MI 49099 or to St. Joseph’s Church, 16603 U.S. Highway 12, White Pigeon, MI 49099. Donations sent to St. Joseph’s will be used to directly benefit the children of St. Joseph’s Church, such as CCD and the Altar Society.