Genevieve Lourie Ransom took her first breaths on January 11, 1920 in Pittsburg, Kansas. She lived a long and exceptional life and, after devoting a lifetime of love to her family and friends, completed her life’s journey on December 7, 2018.

She was born to her devoted, stay-at-home mother, Catherine Helena (nee Ryan), and her father, James William Keeth, a hard-working oil field worker and later a boilermaker for the Kansas City Southern Railroad.

Genevieve’s hometown of Pittsburg, Kansas began as a coal mining camp that gradually grew into a city. Production of coal began a decline around the time Gen was born in 1920. Pittsburg was a very unionized town, so much so that when Andrew Carnegie wanted to build the Pittsburg Public Library in 1910, the unions protested accepting his donation because he was anti-union. Carnegie agreed to build the library but not put his name on it. It was dedicated in 1912, currently houses over 72,000 items and still stands at the corner of Fourth and Walnut Street.  It was in this backdrop that Genevieve was born into this world. Gen grew up with six siblings: Raymond (1902), Sarah (1903), Marguerite (1905), Helen (1911), Martha (1913) and Elizabeth (1921). The first three were born in Galena, Kansas while the rest were born in Pittsburg, Kansas. All are deceased, the most recent being in 1995 when Helen passed away. Gen recalled her father being a quiet and kind man as well as a hard worker. He always called the girls, “daughter.” Gen’s mother was not emotionally expressive, but the children knew she loved them by the touch of her hand and how she cared for them. When Gen was born, her mother was 41 years old while her father was 45.

The Keeth family lived in a large, two-story house with plenty of windows. There were five rooms on the first floor, and one had a potbelly stove where the children dressed because it was warmer than anywhere else in the house. Gen loved playing with a doll and a go-cart as she remembers these as her very special, first gifts.  Gen and her siblings enjoyed skating, Jacks, hopscotch, and Red Rover, and her favorite book was “Little Women.” Gen said she liked Dorothy M., her neighborhood friend who lived across the street. However, she was not permitted to play with Dorothy because her father was a member of the KKK. They did, however, manage to sit on the curb and talk across the street. Gen and her younger sister, Elizabeth, were best friends.  They were one year apart in age while the next oldest, Martha, was seven years older. Gen and Elizabeth always played together and even in later years, enjoyed one another’s company.

Gen’s father James and her brother Raymond worked in the oil fields in Oklahoma or in Detroit where her father had found work for the railroad.  Whenever the two could get home, there was much happiness. Gen described walking home from school in autumn and smelling the chili sauce her mother was making. She also talked about how frightening it was for her mother and the girls to be alone in their home because her father and brother were away working. This alarm came from two different sources. First, there were no real basements in houses back in those days, and their home was in a “cyclone” or “tornado alley.” When dangerous storms hit, the family had what they called “shirt tail parades.”  In Gen’s words, “Mom would lead us all downstairs – it seemed dark as hell –with a blessed candle. As we waited out the storm, we would kneel and pray the rosary while listening to noises outside and felt the house rock back and forth on its foundation.” The other frightening situation the family faced when James and Raymond were away were the sight of crosses burning on their lawn. Some evenings were simply terrifying.

In January of 1928, her brother Raymond died suddenly in Detroit. Although his body was shipped back to Pittsburg for burial, the whole experience had a major impact for the entire family. They moved to Detroit along with Raymond’s wife Jurlean and their son Leo within the next year.

According to Gen, she first met John at church the first Friday of the year. She had gone with a girlfriend, Virginia, who was interested in John at the time. Virginia made arrangements for Gen and her to get a ride to a basketball game that evening. Ironically, it was John, accompanied by his sister and a neighbor, who showed up to provide the ride for Virginia, Genny, and her younger sister, Elizabeth. When Gen arrived at Mass the next morning, John was there, too. For conversation, Genny said she and her sister were going to the Hollywood Theatre to see “Little Women” that evening. To no one’s surprise, John and his sister arrived at the show about the same time! That was the beginning of their love story, and on July 4th following her graduation from high school, John asked her to marry him in front of her mother. Not very romantic, Gen said. He gave her a ring as well as a watch. They immediately began to make wedding plans.

Gen married John Gerald Ransom on Thanksgiving Day, November 24th, 1938 at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church on Detroit’s west side. Since John had been an altar server for many years, faithfully serving at the 5:30 a.m. Mass, the pastor surprised the couple by arranging for a Solemn High Mass. That was very special in the church then and considered a big religious celebration. The pastor met Genevieve at the front of the church and gave her a beautiful pearl rosary. Likewise, Sister Clarita, her senior teacher, gave them a plaque with a symbol of the Holy Eucharist on it. Though pretty marred up, it still exists among her mementos of her past. After a wedding breakfast at the Lee Plaza, the couple went for a short honeymoon though no one seems to know where. This was the beginning of a 51-year journey for John and Gen.

The two newlyweds lived in an apartment near Grand River and Vinewood in Detroit right after their marriage. Although no photos of their home were left, Gen remembered it is as a real cute place that had a wall bed. Together, Genevieve and John G. had twelve children, born between 1940 and 1961. There were six girls and six boys: Joan, John A., James, Joseph, Judith (Judi), Joyce, Janice, Jerome, Kathleen (Kathy), Kenneth Michael (Mike), Richard and Donna. Six children are deceased as is John G. Ransom who passed away in 1989. They’ve been blessed with 21 grandchildren (20 still living), 39 great-grandchildren (38 still living) and 4 great-great-grandchildren with two more expected this coming January.

Gen loved cooking, baking, and singing songs like “Indian Love Call” and “Harbor Lights” while on long trips to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Often times, this would turn into a family sing along. She also loved to do anything that would brighten someone else’s day like spearheading bazaars, resident birthday parties, and social activities for twenty years at the Detroit Baptist Manor. Additionally, serving as a Eucharistic Minister in the 1990s was so very special to her.

When the children were young, Gen would play the piano “by ear.” She also loved to dance and could really “cut a rug” dancing to Herb Alpert’s “A Taste of Honey,” Glen Miller, Lawrence Welk, the Supremes and the Temptations. The family would roll back the dining room carpet as Mom led them all in dancing to oldies along with the new songs of the fifties and sixties. Besides loving her sweet desserts, Gen could really give “the eye” if the kids were out-of-line. She also had her fun-loving side as seen during the times she would dress up as one of two entirely fictional characters, little Suzie or Roger, and act out some made-up story. One time she used green curtains and a hat to be Suzie, then carried her oldest daughter’s new Yorkie around while introducing Annie to everyone she could.

Gen was a hard worker. Although she was a mother of eleven at that time, with little income and working fulltime, she still took responsibility for in-home care of her aged mother and aunt. She never complained, and she was very, very good to both of them.

Gen was always giving of herself, her time, and whatever material possessions she had available to her.

Over the years, Gen enjoyed camp outs with her married children and their families. Getting together and spending time with her children and their families always topped her list whether it was breakfast in the park or a spontaneous trip to Chandler Park where a giant roast, potatoes, and carrots from home were served. Gen also loved going back to Kansas to visit her sister Sarah and the old homestead, Colorado, to visit her sister Helen. She traveled many places with Joyce and Ken, visiting ballparks and historic places. Her last big, memorable trip was to Arizona to spend Christmas with her youngest daughter, Donna, and her family in December 2013.

Gen’s love and influence affected her family in numerous ways. Her memories and traditions still continue on today. Some memories from her children include; her effort to make outings like picnics to Kensington and Stoney Creek as well as to Palmer Park for a midweek BBQ.  She was faithful to attending her graduation class reunions through 2005. Her wonderful cooking and baking abilities - a pinch of this and a dash of that – were gifts.  It was always great! She made delightful homemade soups, cinnamon buns, banana bread, and pumpkin pies. One memory includes making jars and jars of the Keeth recipe chili sauce with her, especially the year she thought a band aid on her finger had come off and was somewhere in the gallons of chili sauce that had already been cooked. Fortunately, it was on the floor! Her big, beautiful warm smile, her beautiful soft blue eyes, and the way she made EVERYONE in the family feel like they meant the world to her. She would pour every ounce of herself into preparing family meals every day, on no sleep, especially Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter. She stood steadfast in her strength and deep faith even when it was known that her heart must have been in a million pieces, especially as she buried six of her children. How appropriate it is to have a Pieta image on each corner of her casket along with the Last Supper!

Her kindness and generosity never went unnoticed.  She always made friends feel accepted, like part of the family. There was obvious joy in her heart when she talked of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and her early years dating and marrying my dad (we could listen to her all day).  Gen had a forgiving spirit, was creative and selfless, putting others first. She loved to laugh and had love and compassion for her own as well as those she had only heard of or met briefly. She never wanted anyone to feel left out.

Gen’s Irish smile and humor became even more prominent during her elder years.

Most importantly, Gen’s love for God and her Christian example will be remembered by all. That is how she lived her faith. Her children will be forever grateful to God that she was their momma, and they, her babies.

Genevieve L. Ransom, a life well-lived. She was the loving wife of the late John G. Ransom. Devoted mother of Joan (Janet), Joyce (Kenneth) Wroblewski, Jerome (Pam), Kathy (Robert) Velasco, Richard (Marilyn), Donna (Kevin) Bass, the late John A. (Jannet), late James (Patricia), late Joseph (late JoAnn), late Judith (late Tom) Maloney, late Janice (late Dennis) Hill, and the late Kenneth Michael Ransom.

Cherished grandmother of Todd (Beth) Ransom, Leah Ransom, James (Tara) Ransom II, the late Michael Curtis Corbett, Christopher Steven Ransom, Daniel (Rick) Maloney, Sandra (Michael) Hammett, Laura Maloney, Tim (Dawn) Hill, Tina (Richard) Stepka, Eric Ransom, Rhoda Santoro, Denise (Gregory) Rich, Deanna (Rodney) Velasco-Gullett, Robert (Miriam) Velasco III, Tammi (George) Rosick, Shannon Ransom, Megan (Terry) Tyree, Daniel (Anne Marie) Bass, Angela Cunningham and Richard (Camela) Maidens.

Caring great grandmother of Charlotte and Evelyn Ransom; Kailee Ransom; Nicole and Alan Hammett; Gabriel and Brooklynn Hill; Cody and Richard (Jr.) Stepka; Michael, Cody, Tyler, Jessica and Elizabeth Santoro;  Samantha (Keaton) Becher, Alexandria (Dale) Mast, Amanda (Jonathan) Hollingshead, Mikayla Rich, Alyvia Rich; Ayrian Kleabir;  Madison Lyons, Naomi, the late Robert IV, Sarah, Emily and Abigail Velasco; Olyvia and George Rosick; Madison Totman, Hailey Brown, Aiden Bass, Brielle Bass, Berlyn and Haidyn Hoyt; Tanith and Keegan Cunningham; and Justin, Kevin and Jocelyn Maidens. Adored great great grandmother of Heidi, Hans and Isaak Becher, Connor Mast, and 2 more on the way.

Genny's visitation will be Friday, December 14th, from 2pm-8pm with a 6:30pm Scripture Service at McCabe Funeral Home, 31950 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. She will lie in state Saturday, December 15th, 10:30am until the time of her Funeral Mass 11am at St. Fabian Catholic Church, 32200 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. Burial at Parkview Memorial Cemetery, Livonia. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions are appreciated to Heart to Heart Hospice through their website https://www.htohhfoundation.org/donation/ OR by mail to:  Heart to Heart Hospice, 30800 Telegraph Rd. Suite 1850, Bingham Farms, MI  48025 and Gleaners Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan (choose “this donation is an honor/memorial gift button) through their website https://gleaners.nationbuilder.com/donate_novholren?source=DirectMail OR by mail to: Gleaners Food Bank, Gleaners Headquarters and Distribution Center, P.O. Box 44050, Detroit, MI  48244-0050.