Born Susanne Barbara Kowatch, but known to all as Mitzi Mudget, a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she passed away peacefully at home on the morning of September 25, 2025, with her family and beloved dogs nearby, just as she had wished.

Mitzi was 91 years old, born on August 23, 1934, in Escanaba, Michigan, to Joseph Kowatch and Elaine (Harwood) Kowatch. Mitzi lived a long, full life filled with style and is survived by her daughters, Susan Littich, Holly (Doug) Harmon, Vicky Welsh, and Joan Mudget; her siblings Mary Jo Miller and Jim Kowatch; her grandchildren Julia Littich, Amanda Christensen, Drew (Leila) Harmon, Lola (Mark) Ramsey, Jason (Erika) Sovinski, and Sally Sovinski; and ten great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by both her parents and a brother, Richard David Kowatch, as well as her daughter, Sally Jane Mudget, and her granddaughter, Laura Jean Littich. Additionally, she was predeceased by Jerry Allen Mudget, with whom she spent more than fifty years raising a family and building a life together.

Mitzi was an artist in everything she touched. A master seamstress, she hand-stitched school outfits, special-occasion dresses, and even Barbie clothes. She had an eye for beauty, always painting, planting, decorating, or cooking something new. Her home was full of color, especially her signature pink, which she often paired with animal prints. Her lipstick, nails, and outfits were always on trend. Even in her final days, her nails and toes were painted bright pink, drawing compliments from every nurse who saw them. She never missed an opportunity to get dressed up.

She had a sharp wit and an even sharper card game. Mitzi played to win and often did—whether it was bridge, Five Crowns, or any game around the table. Her competitive spirit came with charm and mischief, and she made sure everyone, from the littlest grandkid to the oldest friend, knew how to play (and lose) gracefully. For the last eleven years, she never missed her weekly tradition of dinner and cards with her daughters.

Mitzi loved collecting dishes, often visiting estate sales with her daughter Vicky, who lived with and cared for her until the end. She loved exploring the houses as much as finding the best pieces. She was an animal lover, especially of dogs, and delighted in anything adorned with them.

Her sense of adventure took her far beyond Michigan. She loved to travel with her favorite destination being on safari in Africa which she visited with friends multiple times, capturing hundreds of photos of elephants, zebras, and giraffes that she proudly displayed in her bedroom. She also had a remarkable green thumb, with indoor and outdoor plants thriving under her care.

As the matriarch of a large family, Grandma Mitzi came alive when the children were old enough to engage in conversation, learn adult card games, and even be taught how to make a proper Manhattan. Time with Grandma Mitzi often meant soda pops, R-rated movies, and stories you wouldn't hear anywhere else. She wasn't the kind of grandma who played it safe—she was the kind who made you feel grown-up, important, and special.

Mitzi loved to entertain, and her family will carry her legacy forward in every pink bloom, every family gathering, and every deck of cards shuffled around the kitchen table.

Mitzi's visitation will be held at Crandell Funeral Home - Fremont on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, with a small service to follow at 3:00 PM. Instead of flowers, the family invites donations to the Mudget-Harmon-Ramsey Fund at the Fremont Area Community Foundation.