Elizabeth M. “Liz” Zenti

Liz was born on April 17, 1943 in Escanaba, Michigan, the daughter of the late Walter and Marion (Miller) Olson. She was a 1961 graduate of Escanaba Holy Name High School and graduated from Northern Michigan University in 1965 with a degree in Elementary Education. Later in her career, she received a Master’s Degree in Education from NMU.

On October 14, 1967, Liz married Peter J. Zenti at All Saints Catholic Church in Gladstone. Liz first met Peter on the “Cliffs Ridge” ski hill in Marquette while they were both teaching in the Gwinn School system. They settled in Gwinn where they built a beautiful home, raised their two daughters, and enjoyed nearly 40 years of marriage together. While the girls were growing up, the family enjoyed summer camping adventures across the U.P. Over the years, she loved spending holidays and special events together with family, especially visiting with her grandchildren both in Gwinn and Austin, TX.

Liz was a dedicated educator and taught at Gilbert Elementary School in Gwinn, retiring in 2009. While she spent many years teaching kindergarten, she had a fondness for books and teaching students to read. She was a long time member and organizer of the Gwinn TOPS group and enjoyed volunteering at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry. Liz was a big fan of basketball and followed many collegiate and professional teams. Locally, she enjoyed selling basketball tickets at the high school games and seeing many friends over the years. She remained steadfast in her faith, cherished her daily private prayer time, and was an active member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Gwinn. In her free time, she participated in the knitting group at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Marquette where she knitted many beautiful prayer shawls to comfort people. Her kind and generous spirit shined throughout the community as she enjoyed keeping others close through small simple acts of great kindness.

Survivors include one daughter, Elizabeth (Lyndon) Milliner of Austin, TX; three grandchildren, Matthew, Lauren and Michael Milliner; a brother, William (Judy) Olson of Gwinn; sister, Barbara Irwin of Flushing, MI; nieces and nephews, Tomoko Inoue, John Irwin, Christine Holland, Eric Irwin, Chris Emmendorfer, Rico Zenti, Peter Zenti, Kathy Fudjack, Marilyn Seigel, and Julie Silc. Preceding her in death, in addition to her parents, was her husband, Peter in 2007, daughter, Carrie Zenti and brother-in-law, Ernest Irwin in 2016.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and out of respect for the health and wellness of others, a private family Funeral Mass will be held at St. Anthony Catholic Church with Rev. Allen Mott officiating. Friends and extended family are invited to join the Funeral Mass on March 12, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. via live stream with the following link:

https://my.gather.app/remember/elizabeth-zenti.

A public graveside burial service will be held at the Gwinn Cemetery in the early summer. Details will be announced at a later date.

Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy are kindly asked to consider memorial donations to causes that were close to Liz’s heart: The Gwinn Senior Center, 165 N. Maple St., Gwinn, MI 49841 or the St. Vincent de Paul Society Food Pantry, 111 N. Pine St., Gwinn, MI 49841.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at the Trillium House and Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice for their expert care and compassion. Appreciation and thanks also to Dr. Catherine Kroll, Shayna Orlich, N.P. of Upper Great Lakes Family Health Center, and Dr. Mark Larson of The Mayo Clinic.

Canale-Gwinn Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting the Zenti family where memories of Liz may be shared at canalefuneral.com.