Maria Colomba Crantas

Maria Columba Crantas of The Villages, Florida (formally of West Bloomfield and Metamora, Michigan), passed away peacefully in her home on April 7, 2025, at the age of 88. She was born on December 14, 1936, in Pontiac, Michigan. She grew up living above the family’s grocery store and shoe store in downtown Pontiac, before moving with her parents to Hammond Lake in West Bloomfield. Though an only child, she had happy memories of being raised in a big Italian family, with many family gatherings and visits to relatives in Canada. As a child, she attended St. Michael’s Catholic School in Pontiac, keeping in touch with those friends for most of her life.

After high school, Maria worked at Community National Bank in Pontiac, and married George (Bill) Crantas in 1964. She raised her children in Fort Riley, Kansas, and Twentynine Palms, California, a place she loved, before returning with her young children to Hammond Lake in 1977. She ensured her children were taught their Catholic faith. Maria worked at the Oakland County Road Commission for nearly twenty years, where she had many good friends, before retiring at age sixty-two.

Maria enjoyed fun times with family and friends, music, line dancing, reading, watching classic movies, mystery shows, and swimming class at the pool in Florida. She had a fondness for Elvis Presley and Betty Boop.

Maria is preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Jennie Leone, her husband, George (Bill) Crantas, and her son-in-law, Norm Sumner.

Maria is survived by her children: Georgia (John) Wright, Carla Sumner, Bill (Christine) Crantas, and Jim Crantas, her grandchildren: Amanda (Zachary) Bartlett, Katelyn Wright, Nick Sumner, Adam Sumner, Luke Sumner, Jack Sumner, Ashley Crantas, Jake (Robin) Crantas, Jenna (John) Smith, Jessica Crantas, and John Crantas, and great grandchildren: Cassius Crantas, with Baby Smith, Baby Crantas, and Baby Bartlett arriving soon.

A funeral Mass will take place at 10:30am on Friday, May 2, 2025, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 711 Rickett Road, Brighton, Michigan 48116. Maria’s family will receive visitors from 9:30am until the time of Mass at 10:30am at the Church. Maria will be buried at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan on a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her honor to Stop Soldier Suicide (stopsoldiersuicide.org).