Obituary of Luella Margaret Edwards

Luella Margaret Monday was born on November 1, 1943 in Toledo, Ohio. She was born from the union of the late James Harold Monday and the late Prudence (Early) Monday. Luella attended DeVilbiss High School in Toledo and continued her undergraduate studies at Greenville College in Illinois before earning her Master’s in Education from Wayne State University. For forty years, Luella shared her love of music with countless students as an elementary vocal music educator with Trenton Public Schools. She retired in 2004 but continued as a substitute teacher for Monroe Public Schools for several additional years. Luella further gave of herself by participating in five different church choirs between St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Monroe Missionary Baptist Church, and the Agora Chorale. She was an active member of the Alpha Delta Kappa and Pi Lambda Theta Sororities. Her love for gardening led to her membership in several garden clubs in the Monroe area. She was outgoing and outspoken, known to be set in her ways, but her love for others was evident in her volunteer work at multiple nursing homes where she performed with her grandchildren, Nicholas and Abigail, the light of her world. She instilled her love for music and the arts into her grandchildren by teaching them how to play the piano, providing for private flute lessons, and emphatically encouraging them to attend numerous music camps and workshops over the years. Luella Margaret Edwards, age 72, passed away at 3:09 pm on August 24, 2016 at her home at with her loving family by her side. In addition to her parents, her passing was preceded by a brother-in-law: Norris Kopka; two aunts: Dorcas and Nobleine Early, and her beloved yellow Labrador “Maggie”. To cherish her memory Luella leaves her beloved daughters: Shelley (Troy) Saltsman and Christine (Tracy) Marshbanks both of Monroe; her sister: Phyllis Kopka of Tecumseh; one brother: Frank Monday of Florida; seven grandchildren: Nicholas and Abigail Howerton, Macy, Troy II, Caleb, Zachary, Spenscer Saltsman, and her cousin Warren R. Monday. Friends may gather on Sunday, August 28, 2016 from 2:00-8:00 pm at Merkle Funeral Service, 2442 North Monroe (734) 384-5185. She will lie in state from 10:00 am until a Celebration of Her Life at 11:00 am on Monday, August 29, 2016 at Monroe Missionary Baptist Church, 14260 South Dixie Highway. Reverend Roy Southerland pastor of the church will officiate. Procession will follow to Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo for burial. Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort, send a floral arrangement, or share a photo by visiting www.merklefh.com and then selecting “Add A Memory”.