T. Ardele Shaltz

T. Ardele Shaltz, 77, passed away on January 7, 2026, after a short but courageous fight with pancreatic cancer.

Ardele lit up every room she entered. More than just kind, she always had open arms and gave the warmest hug. She was caring, loving, and accepting, and went out of her way to make everyone she encountered feel special, important, and worthy.

Born Thelma Ardele Blackman on April 4, 1948, in Allen Park, Michigan, she was the daughter of Thomas Wesley Blackman, originally of Durham, England, and Thelma Elizabeth Blackman (Beaucamp), originally of Guernsey, England. Ardele grew up in Flint and graduated from Flint Northwestern High School.

At Flint Junior College (now Mott Community College), Ardele earned her Associate’s Degree as part of the very first class of dental hygienists, where she was an honor student, and served as president of her class. There, in the fall of 1967, she met Philip Shaltz, whom she married in June of 1970.

Ardele worked for several years as a dental hygienist while Phil served in the Army Reserves from 1970 to 1976 and began his entrepreneurial career. When they started a family, Ardele chose to stay home and always remained thankful for having the luxury to do so, as becoming a mother was her lifelong dream. Carrie Ardele came along in 1979, and Jason Philip joined them 17 months later, in 1980.

As the children grew, Ardele made the decision to return to school to continue her education, earning first her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan-Flint and then her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she was a Maize and Blue Award recipient.

Ardele served on the Carman-Ainsworth Board of Education and went on to receive a Level 4 Master Board Member Certification from the Michigan Association of School Boards. She also served on the boards of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint and Priority Children, volunteered as an adult literacy tutor and as a Department of Human Services Family-to-Family community representative, and served as a phone bank coordinator for Children’s Miracle Network.

When Carrie and Jason started their own families, Ardele became known as “Geemie.” She spent much of her time traveling between New York City and Los Angeles to be close to her children and beloved grandchildren Daisy Anne Shaltz, Wesley Jason Shaltz, and Daphne Ardele Shaltz Haslup. Between both coasts, she passionately enjoyed the theater and participated in many film, book, and improv clubs, from which she formed long and cherished friendships.

Over the years, Phil and Ardele together supported organizations large and small, including Carman-Ainsworth Schools, the Community Foundation of Greater Flint, Crim Fitness Foundation, the Flint Diaper Bank, Flint Children’s Museum, Hurley Foundation, United Way, the University of Michigan-Flint, Whaley Children’s Center, YWCA and Children’s Miracle Network, among many others.

Ardele’s lifelong motto was:

“I shall pass this way but once; any good that I can do or any kindness I can show to any human being; let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

-Étienne de Grellet

And she indeed lived by it fully.

Ardele is survived by her husband, Philip; her children, Carrie (Ben) Haslup of Los Angeles and Jason (Annie) Shaltz of Los Angeles; her grandchildren, Daphne Haslup, Daisy Shaltz, and Wesley Shaltz; her siblings, John (Cindy) Blackman and Linda (Kenneth) Steibel; and her nieces and nephews Emily (Dane) Brown, Matthew (Julie) Steibel, Kelly (Auston Alexander) Steibel, Jessica Hicks, Wayne (Jennifer Guy) Morford, Brent (Kim Markee) Shaltz, Brian (Stephanie) Shaltz, Frederick Shaltz III, Elizabeth (Jeff) Goyette, Dan (Amy) Butterfield, and Brett Butterfield.

She was preceded in death by her parents Wesley and Thelma Blackman; her parents-in-law, Frederick and Veronica Shaltz; her brother-in-law, Frederick Shaltz II; her sisters-in-law, Judith Shaltz and Arlene Butterfield; and her nephews, Bradley and Brandon Shaltz.

A memorial will be held at Sharp Funeral Homes, Fenton Chapel, 1000 Silver Lake Rd., Fenton, Saturday, January 31, 10am Visitation, 11am Memorial Service, Reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, Ardele and her family kindly request that donations be made to Children’s Miracle Network. https://donate.childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org/?donate=5262