Obituary of Coliss Cousino

Coliss Ruth (Drodt) Cousino, 65, of Monroe, a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, an ambassador for Christ and a Soul on Fire for God, was called home to the loving arms of her Savior, Jesus, at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, March 3, 2016, at home after a courageous battle against metastatic melanoma. Friends may call from 3:00 to 8:00pm, Saturday, March 5, 2016 and from 2:00 to 8:00pm, Sunday, March 6, 2016 at Merkle Funeral Service, North Monroe; 2442 North Monroe Street. She will lie in state Monday from 10:00am until the time of the service at 11:00am at Trinity Lutheran Church, 323 Scott Street, with the Reverend Jeffrey Heimsoth, Administrative Pastor, officiating. A committal will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park, LaSalle. She was first diagnosed with melanoma in 2002 and again in April, 2014, when the cancer metastasized on her liver and lung. She had been in poor health since 2014 and seriously ill since she came home from the hospital Feb. 10 under the care of Great Lakes Caring Hospice. She had hoped to live to her next birthday on Easter, but now will celebrate with the Lord. Born March 27, 1950, in Toledo, Ohio, she was the second daughter to Clinton and Eleanor (Stevens) Drodt of Ida. She was baptized at East Ida Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ida and graduated from Ida High School in 1968. Although life as a travel agent moved her to places like Hawaii, she always stayed close to her treasured family and friends in Ida. On June 17, 1983, she married Dean Cousino at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Erie, with the Rev. Robert Haener, pastor, officiating. They lived in Monroe for 32 ½ years. She served the Lord as a faithful wife and selfless mother. She was the cook, cleaner, cheerleader and chauffered kids to soccer games, dance studios and school events. Best of all, she passed on her faith in Christ. Coliss loved to serve her church, Trinity Lutheran, as a choir member, VBS volunteer and Sunday School teacher. She led Bible studies and the praying ministry "Moms in Touch" at both Trinity Lutheran School and St. Mary Catholic Central High School. At Trinity, she also was a Stephen Minister, served on the Evangelism Committee and helped with the Community of Needs Meals. She sponsored a girl, Esther, from Indonesia and served as a board member for Heartbeat of Monroe. Having earned an associate degree in special education from Schoolcraft College in 1982, she served as a teacher's aide for the Monroe County Intermediate School District for many years, taking time off to raise three children and be a homemaker. She also was employed as an activity aide at Fountain View of Monroe (2007-2009), Little House of Hugs (2009), Lutheran Home (2011) and Brookstone Academy (2012). Coliss' life was characterized by faith in her Savior. She loved to read her Bible and pray. She knew that nothing, not even death, could separate her from the love of God that was God's gift to her through Jesus. She happily shared this with everyone she could! Coliss treasured time with family, who called her "Coco." Her humble spirit, thankful attitude and appreciation of the beauty of a sunset or flowers will be greatly missed. She enjoyed singing, making crafts, going to Art Prize in Grand Rapids and listening to praise and worship music. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Dean; three children — Rachel (Seth) Hinz of Ypsilanti; Andrew of Grand Rapids and Bethany of Monroe; one sister, Martha (Lonnie) Smith of Brooklyn; two grandsons, Judah and Samson, and many nieces and nephews, sister-in-laws and brothers and sisters in Christ. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, Heartbeat of Monroe or the family. Online condolences to the family may be made at www.merklefs.com.