Estelle Catherine Dul

Estelle Catherine Dul - A Woman Ahead of her Time - died May 1, 2010 at age 97. Estelle was born in Detroit in 1912 of Polish immigrant parents, Stanley and Catherine Obloj. Estelle Obloj defied the odds rising to a career in manufacturing during a time when women’s professional opportunities were limited to teaching and nursing. Leaving school in the 11th grade, Estelle completed a program at the Business Institute of Detroit holding jobs as a switchboard operator and a secretary at Western Manufacturing Company. Estelle was soon the office manager and bookkeeper and later a buyer of materials. She became a partner in Transmission & Gear Co., and later the sole owner of Collord Corp, a metal stamping and rubber coating operation, during WWII. At age 33, she married Alexander Dul and had two daughters who have continued to operate the family businesses. Estelle continued in manufacturing and founded another stamping company in 1954 (still run by the family today) known as Clips & Clamps Industries in Plymouth. Always looking for new opportunities, Estelle and Al decided on a change of life career when in their 50s they purchased Shady Hollow Golf Club in Romulus in 1962. The entrepreneurial spirit and drive continued and in 1974 they purchased Fox Hills Country Club in Plymouth, which the family has owned and managed for over 35 years. Fox Hills is now a 63-hole golf & banquet center home of many weddings, golf outings and corporate events. Estelle was an incredible lady with an indomitable spirit who lived through the Depression and WWII, personal losses, and numerous business challenges yet she remained kind, humble, compassionate and loving to which all who knew her well will attest. Estelle was a supporter of St. Mary’s of Orchard Lake, the Order of the Alhambra and formed a family foundation to provide scholarships to the employees of Fox Hills & Clips & Clamps and their families as well as contributions to other charitable organizations. Estelle was preceded in death by her beloved husband Alexander in 1986. She was the loving mother of Kathleen (Michael) Aznavorian and Sandy (Douglas) Mily; and the dear grandmother of Jennifer Aznavorian, Alexis (Jeff) O’Brien, Nicholas Mily, and Jeff (Tara) Aznavorian. The family will receive guests at a visitation to be held Tuesday 3-9 PM and Wednesday 2-9 PM at Vermeulen Funeral Home, 46401 West Ann Arbor Road (between Sheldon and Beck) Plymouth. Scripture Service and Sharing of Memories will be held Wednesday evening 7:30 PM. Funeral Mass will be Thursday 10 AM at St. Colette Church 17600 Newburgh Road, Livonia, and entombment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association 20300 Civic Center Drive, Ste. 100, Southfield, MI 48076. To share a memory with the family, please use the condolences link on this page.

Estelle Catherine Dul

September 13, 1912 - May 1, 2010