Penny Jean Haldy Obituary
Penny Jean Haldy, 71 of Stevensville, MI passed away Monday July 13, 2026 at Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph surrounded by her family.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at Christ Lutheran Church, 4333 Cleveland Ave., Stevensville. Friends may visit from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday, July 20, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Service in St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Area Agency on Aging. Those wishing to share a memory of Penny may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Penny was born on May 4th, 1955, in St. Joseph Michigan, to Carroll and Mildred “Milly” (Svorec) Ott. She attended Christ Lutheran School through the eighth grade and went on to graduate from St. Joseph High School in 1973. She continued her education attending Bronson School of Nursing where she earned her Bachelors in Nursing.
On May 2, 1992, Penny married her best friend and love of her life Pete Haldy. She worked various nursing jobs at the local hospitals, always eager to continue to learn and help people at the same time. Nursing was more than a profession to Penny- it was her calling.
Penny lived courageously with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Despite the challenges she faced, she remained positive, resilient, and determined to enjoy life to the fullest. She refused to let her illness define her. Instead, she made it a point to do a good deed every day and encourage others to do the same. In her final years, Penny became thankful for her MS, recognizing that it brought remarkable people into her life-people she loved deeply and cherished. She believed life was too precious to hold onto anger or resentment, choosing instead to meet every person, every circumstance, and even her illness with forgiveness, kindness, and gratitude.
Penny embraced life with joy and gratitude. She loved her garden, traveling and a dog in her lap, but nothing brought greater happiness than being surrounded by the people she loved. Whether cheering from the side lines, celebrating special milestones, or simply sharing laughter over a bowl of ice cream, Penny found beauty in the ordinary moments that became life’s greatest memories.
Penny is survived by her mother, Milly Ott; husband, Pete Haldy; daughters Cheryl (Chris) Thompson, Jennifer (Thomas Ryan) Gillespie, and Andrea (Ryan) Dunn; grandchildren Ethan (Katherine) Gillespie, Isabella Thompson, Gabriella Thompson, Ariel (Cole) Bennethum, Megan Ryan, Allie Sturgill, Katlyn Ryan, Madalyn Ryan, Sophia Ryan, Aubrey Dunn, Lucas Dunn, and Addison Jean Dunn; great-grandchild Lochlan Bennethum; sister Cathy (Dave LaForge) Ott; brother John (Sheila) Ott; many nieces and nephews; and special friend Dair.
Penny was preceded in death by her father, and her sister, Carolyn Ott.
