Alexandria 'Ali' Catherine Ward
TRAVERSE CITY — Alexandria "Ali" Catherine Ward, 21, of Traverse City, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, July 19, 2011. Ali was born Oct. 4, 1989, in Traverse City.

She attended Trinity Lutheran School from preschool to fifth grade and graduated from Traverse City St. Francis High School in 2008. She attended Adrian College, NMC, and was currently a student at Central Michigan University studying journalism with an emphasis on public relations. She was a member of PhiSigmaSigma.

Ali's places of employment during her college breaks included the Grand Traverse Veterinary Hospital, Chateau Grand Traverse, Mackinaw Brewing Company and an internship with the 2011 National Cherry Festival. All the different staffs said that she had a great work ethic and went above and beyond the call of duty. Her positive attitude and smile were infectious and "you just wanted a million of her surrounding you." One job especially close to her heart was working with her dad, a UPS driver, as his elf delivering packages during the Christmas season.

As all children do, she had many God-given gifts. One in particular was the ability to move people with her figure skating. Her interpretation of the music and her ability to express that to the audience was truly moving.

Ali had a great love of reading. As writing was also a passion, she was looking forward to the possibility of freelance writing for Susan with the Cherry Festival next summer.

Her funny, loving and tender heart will be greatly missed.

Surviving Ali are her parents, Carol and Thomas Ward; grandparents, Thomas and Margaret Ward; aunts and uncles, Sharon and Fred Fabris, of Flint, Ellen and Tom Barrows, of Norwalk Ohio, Cassie and Lanny Cottner, of Canada Creek Ranch, Mich., Maggie and Jeff Dickson, of Charlevoix, and Nancy Ward, of Hubbard Lake; several loving cousins; godparents, Joe and Marcia LeMieux; her birth mother, Tracey Friday, and her family; her figure skating coaches, Heidi and Laurent Masse; and many special, loving friends of all walks and ages.

Ali was preceded in death by her grandparents, Esther and Peter DeLorenzo; and her beloved dog, Happy.

Tom and Carol extend their sincere appreciation to all the people who loved and cared for Ali and feel blessed with the depth of support they are receiving. May God's peace and blessings be with all of us at this difficult time.

Visitation will be held for Ali today from 5 to 8 p.m., at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 23, at 11 a.m. at the Faith Reformed Church, with a visitation held one hour prior at the church. Pastor Les Wiseman will serve as officiant. Burial will take place at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens at a later time.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Cherryland Humane Society.

Please sign Ali's online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com .

The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.