June 4, 1931 — Feb. 18, 2016

Lena M. Ferguson, 84, of Niles, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016, after an extended illness with her family by her side at Memorial Hospital in South Bend.

Lena was born on June 4, 1931, to the late James W. and Oshea (Stoner) Woodlee in McMinnville, Tennessee.

After high school Lena met Robert Ferguson whom she fell deeply in love with and married on March 7, 1954 at a ceremony in South Bend, Indiana and they shared 53 years of marriage.

Lena was an avid gardener and loved to work in her flower beds, rose and vegetable garden. After retirement Lena and her husband loved to travel, two of their favorite destinations were McMinnville where Lena was born and Texas. She also enjoyed bowling, euchre, and embroidery.

Preceding Lena are her parents, her husband, a brother, James “Hobert” Woodlee and sisters: Marguerite Woodlee, Pauline Campbell, and Irene Woodlee, one grandchild and one great grandchild.

Lena is survived by her daughter Pamela Ferguson-Pauszek of Niles and her three sons; Rick Ferguson of Arlington, Texas, Ronald (Vincenza) Ferguson of Dowagiac and Robert (Lynn) Ferguson of New Whiteland, Indiana. She is also survived by her brother Walter (Cheryl) Woodlee of Bristol, Indiana, eight grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren.

A time of visitation will be on Friday, Feb. 26, from 6 until 8 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Lena will be held at Brown Funeral Home on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016 at 9:30 a.m. with a committal to follow at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be made in Lena’s memory to Alzheimer’s Association of Michigan — Great Lakes, 564 South Main Street, Suite 200, Ann Arbor, MI 48104.

Condolences, photos, and memories can be left Lena’s at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHome.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.