Loretta May Debrodt Getson

Loretta May DeBrodt Getson left off from sojourning in this world to be at home with the Lord on Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at her residence in Richmond, Virginia. She was born March 14, 1930 in Cleveland, Ohio to Robert M. and Maria S. (Schneider) Foreman.
Loretta was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, great and great-great grandmother, and aunt, excellent homemaker and compassionate social worker. She was a prayer warrior for her family, friends and acquaintances. She loved to sew and embroider, producing professional quality clothing, Christmas stockings, gifts and works of art. Loretta graduated West High School in Cleveland, Ohio in 1948. She received her bachelor degree with honors from Saginaw Valley State University in 1975. In 1951 she married William H. DeBrodt. They had three children. William passed away in 1976. In 1991 she married Charles M. Getson. He predeceased her in 2005. As a young woman in Cleveland, Loretta worked as a typist and clerk at Federal Reserve Bank, Glidden Paint Company and Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Co.
Shortly after moving to Saginaw, Michigan in 1965, Loretta began working as a library aide, developing and organizing the Library-Materials Center at Martha Longstreet Elementary School. In 1971 she began working for the State of Michigan, Saginaw County Department of Social Services, retiring in 1991.
Loretta was an active member and/or president of a number of churches and organizations including St. Paul Lutheran, Trinity Lutheran and Faith Lutheran Churches, Saginaw Social Service Club Board of Directors, Trinity/St. John Community Center Board of Directors, American Association of University Women, SVSU Alumni Board of Directors and Child and Family Services Board of Directors in Saginaw, Michigan. She also was a member of Alamance Lutheran Church, served as Volunteer Guardian Ad Litem, member and congregation unit president of Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and its Mission Action Committee, Ecumenical Committee of North Carolina Synod ELCA, and member and Facilitator of Lutheran/ Roman Catholic Covenant Committee in North Carolina. After moving to Richmond, she joined Lutheran Church of Our Savior and later, St. Luke Lutheran Church.
She leaves to cherish her memory, two daughters and one son, Ruth (Howard) Sharper of Saginaw, Michigan, Marie (Charles) Williams of Richmond, Virginia and Paul (Erin) DeBrodt of Ledyard, Connecticut; fifteen grandchildren, Sofana, Briana, Mazi, Kanyama, Maisha, Issa Beno, Kito, Tulani, Mariama, Kalifah, Justin, Adam, Nathan, Geneva and Olivia; nineteen great-grandchildren and two great-great- grandchildren; three brothers, Robert C. Foreman, Edward R. Foreman and Frederick D. Foreman; many nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins; many other relatives and friends including special friends, Cousin Darlene Welter DiCato, Kathleen (Kitty) Turner and Janet Gaeth.
Loretta was preceded in death by her parents, Robert M. and Maria S. (Schneider) Foreman, and husband, Charles M. Getson and her first husband, William DeBrodt.
The family would like to express special thanks to Marie DeBrodt Williams, staff at Brookdale Imperial Plaza Assisted Living and The Cremation and Burial Society of Virginia, all in Richmond, Virginia, the staff at Paradise Funeral Chapel, Pastor Connie Sassanella, Pastor Kareem Bowen and members of St. John Lutheran Church and The Potters Touch Ministries in Saginaw, Michigan.
Family Hour: Sunday, March 1, 2015 - 2:30 p.m.
St. John Lutheran Church
915 Federal Avenue
Saginaw, Michigan 48601
(989)754-0489
Memorial Service: Sunday, March 1, 2015 - 3:00 p.m.
St. John Lutheran Church
915 Federal Avenue
Saginaw, Michigan 48601
(989)754-0489
Officiating: Pastor Connie Sassanella
Eulogist: Pastor Kareem Bowen, The Potter's Touch Ministries