MARCH 14 • 2024 | 69
R
onald Coden, 80,
of Berkley, died
March 5, 2024.
Ron Coden has been
described as a giant man
in a leprechaun’s body. He
had a grand talent to sing
and make people laugh
that he used to fulfill his
life’s mission. He simply
wanted to help people
smile, laugh and sing with
him. Be happy.
He was a loving family
man, a devoted husband,
father, grandfather, brother
and uncle. He sang for
his immediate family and
his extended family with
unsurpassed warmth. The
smile and twinkle in his
eyes were also shared with
friends who came to feel
like family.
His love for his wife,
Renee, burned so bright
it lit up every room they
passed through. Renee was
the muse for a life that was
a love song.
Ron’s influences were Al
Jolson, Josh White, Laurel
and Hardy, Walt Disney,
Abraham Lincoln and his
brother Steve. He never
lost the wise impish child
that saw the world with
hopeful eyes.
He was the consummate
entertainer. With a
conscience.
Ron sang for Focus:
HOPE for more than
50 years. No request
was denied. He loved
Father Bill Cunningham
and co-founder Eleanor
Josaitis. He alone sang
at all 51 Focus: HOPE
Music Festivals. He was
there singing “We Shall
Overcome” at the Walks
for Justice.
When Father
Cunningham asked Ron
to sing at a Good Friday
service in 1972, Ron said
yes. He continued to sing
on Good Fridays for 25
years, until Cunningham’s
passing.
As Eleanor Josaitis was
dying, Ron was at her side
for more than a year. He
couldn’t leave the room until
he got a smile or a nod.
Ron loved his work as an
elementary school music
teacher. For several years he
taught the little ones to sing
and play together with music.
He booked them for a school
performance once a month.
He gave them the stage.
Ron created unforgettable
characters for five years on
the Hot Fudge children’s TV
series. Professor Emotion for
all of us!
On stage, he invited
other entertainers in the
audience to join him.
When he sang “Forever
Young,” we all became
younger. He was the fiddler
on our roof.
One night at the
Railroad Crossing, a little
girl, Lisa, ran on stage
during a set and started
dancing. Ron set down
his guitar, took her in his
arms, put her on his lap
and sang the Unicorn song.
Just for her.
Ron Coden was a
unicorn. We will never see
his like again.
Mr. Coden is survived
by his wife, Renee
Coden; children, David
and Christina Coden,
Kimberly and Josh
Diskin, and Michael
Coden; grandchildren,
Asa and Evelyn Diskin,
and Harlan and Maurice
Coden; brother and
sister-in-law, Stephen and
Carol Sue Coden; sister,
Sandy Sipher; nephews
and nieces, Mark and
Robyn, Frankie and Jaye,
Jonathan and Jodi, and
Emma; sisters-in-law and
brothers-in-law, Cheryl
and Carol, Gregg and
Mai, and Danielle and
Michael; mother-in-law,
Beverly Worpell. He is
also survived by a world of
family and friends.
He was the beloved son
of the late Maurice Coden
and the late Evelyn Coden
Sipher, and the loving
brother of the late Arline
Carris.
Interment was at
Machpelah Cemetery.
Contributions may be
directed to Focus Hope,
1400 Oakman Bvd.,
Detroit, MI 48238, www.
focushope.edu; Hospice
of Michigan, 400 Galleria
Officenter, Suite 400,
Southfield, MI 48034,
www.hom.org/donations or
a charity one your choice.
Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
A Song in His Heart
Valley Drive, Ann Arbor,
MI 48108, www.nkfm.
org. Arrangements by Ira
Kaufman Chapel.
SHEILA
WEDDELL, 62,
of New Hudson,
Michigan, died
Feb. 28, 2024.
She is survived
by her beloved husband,
Charles Weddell; children,
Andrea Meyers, Heidi (Ryan)
Logan, Caitlin Weddell,
Matthew Weddell and Casey
Weddell; grandchildren,
Oliver, Finnian, Jace, Ava and
Maisie; brother and sister-in-
law, Jason (Michelle) Stockler.
Also survived by her adoring
dog, Grady, and many other
loving family members and
friends.
Interment was held
at Clover Hill Park
Cemetery in Birmingham.
Contributions can be
made to the Pulmonary
Fibrosis Foundation or to
the Detroit Animal Rescue.
Arrangements by Dorfman
Chapel.
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Ronald Coden