Harry J. Hamel

HARRY JOSEPH HAMEL, age 79 of Otisville, died April 27, 2012 at his residence, after a six month battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Funeral services will be held at 11AM Friday, May 4, 2012 at St Frances Xavier Catholic Church with Rev.Fr. Francis Faraci officiating. Cremation will follow the service. Visitation will be from 2–8PM Thursday, May 3, 2012 at the funeral home with a prayer service vigil at 7 PM. Harry was born on April 30, 1932 in Detroit, MI to the late Henry and Marie (Meade) Hamel. He was the second youngest son of 10 siblings and the last of the siblings to pass. He married Evie Lynne Bechard on August 11, 1951 at 19 and 17 years of age. They were a true testament to what love and an enduring marriage is after celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary last year. After he and Evie wed, he was a Taxi driver in Detroit and then served his country in the U.S. Army, traveling to Germany, where he helped disassemble the Nuremberg Death Camp after WWII. Harry is best known for his 32 ½ years of service as a proud Railroad Police Officer. After retirement, he attended Mott Community College for a short time and was very proud of the fact that he received all A's. He became known around Otisville as "Mr. Parade Organizer" and was a proud member of the St. Francis Xavier Men's Club. Harry loved life and his family and whenever he was called upon to help he never turned someone away no matter the circumstances. He loved to hear a good joke and was always willing to share one. He always tried to live up to what he thought his Lord would want him to do, but he was the first to admit he didn't always live up to it as he thought he should. Harry leaves behind many friends and family after going to join his youngest daughter, Patrice, who preceded him in death last year. Left to hold him in memory is his wife, Evie Lynne; children: Renee and Jack Kuriger, Yvonne and Tony Anclard, Celeste Allen and Joseph and Julie Hamel; grandchildren: Clarice Anclard, Dannette and Rick Warner, Adelle and George Johnson, Jessica Hamel, Chrys and Anna Allen, Erin, Paige, and MatthewHamel; great grandchildren: Shauna, Zack, and Dominic Warner, Isabel Fowler, and Alli Johnson. The family would like to express their special thanks to Dr. Brian Beck, Dr. Sunil Nagpal and the staff of the Great Lakes Cancer Institute for their kind care and support during this difficult time.