Elizabeth Hart

Elizabeth Ann (Spitzley) Hart, age 75, passed away peacefully on December 23, 2025. She was born on October 12, 1950, in Lansing, Michigan, the eldest child of William and Gladys (Brown) Spitzley, and from an early age exhibited the quiet strength and thoughtful curiosity that would define her life.

Elizabeth graduated from Western Michigan University in 1971, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Studies. It was there, amid books and ideas, that she met her husband and lifelong partner, Douglas Hart. Teaching was not merely her profession but her calling. Elizabeth devoted her career to educating children who lived at the margins of traditional systems, offering patience, structure, and belief to those who too often went unseen. She taught with both rigor and compassion, and for many students she became not only a teacher, but a steady counselor and advocate-someone who listened carefully and expected much because she believed deeply.

A steadfast proponent of social justice, Elizabeth held firm convictions rooted in empathy and fairness. She opposed forces that fractured families, exploited poverty, or diminished human dignity, and she lived her values with quiet resolve. Her classroom, like her life, was a place where voices mattered and principles were practiced, not merely discussed.

Beyond her professional life, Elizabeth found contentment in the careful and the contemplative: needlework done stitch by stitch, gardens patiently tended, and kitchens warmed by baking. She delighted in British television, loved history-especially the lessons of World War II-and had a lifelong affection for animals. Nothing, however, brought her greater joy than being present for her grandsons' events, watching them grow and cheering them on with unmistakable pride.

Family was the central narrative of Elizabeth's life. After forty-two years in Middleville, she and Doug chose to move to Vicksburg to be closer to those she loved, a chapter marked by togetherness and gratitude.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, William Spitzley; and her sister-in-law, Susan Cole.

She is survived with deep love by her husband of fifty-three years, Douglas Hart; her children, Catherine (Jay) Jansma, Anne-Marie Hart, and Michael (Rebecca) Hart; her grandchildren, Xavier and Andrew Hart, Kollen (Ashley) Jansma, and Lindsey (Jason) Chartier; her sister, Patricia (Dale) Spitzley; her sisters-in-law, Leslie (Bob) Guernsey and Linda (Russ) DeVries; her aunt, Alice L'Huilier; her cherished fur baby, Charlie; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews who will carry her lessons forward.

Memorial contributions in Elizabeth's memory may be directed to the Kalamazoo Humane Society or the Vicksburg High School Band, The Big Red Machine. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.

In accordance with the family's wishes, a public visitation will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home, with a Rosary service beginning at 6:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, with Monsignor Thomas Martin officiating. Elizabeth will be laid to rest at Vicksburg Cemetery following the service.

While at www.amsfuneralhomes.com please take time to sign Elizabeth's guestbook and/or share a memory with her family.

The Hart family is being cared for by the Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Homes and Cremation Society, 409 South Main Street, Vicksburg, MI 49097. 269-649-1697.