Edith Lillie (Chamberlain) Basile, 80, of Ontonagon, passed away January 30, 2012, at the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette, Michigan.

Edith was the youngest of six children born to Tollcott and Grace Chamberlain on June 1, 1931 In Ontonagon.

Edith was a graduate of the Ontonagon Township Schools, and later attended Northern Michigan University for 2 years, before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. She met and later married John J. Basile on May 30, 1953 at Scott Air Force Base. On November 25, 1953 Edith was honorably discharged. During her later working career, Edith was briefly employed with the Mary Todd candy factory in Ontonagon, while her husband was overseas in Libya, Africa. After John retired from the Air Force, and the family returned to Ontonagon, Edith began a career with the Tiny Peoples Nursery that lasted for 18 years. For a time, she was a volunteer for the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter and did volunteer driving for the Family Independence Agency. She was also instrumental in forming the Ontonagon Habit for Humanity with her brother, Austin Chamberlain. For many years she was the corresponding secretary for the Ontonagon County Chamber of Commerce and the financial secretary for the Ontonagon United Methodist Church.

Edith is survived by three of her four children, Susan of Ontonagon, Grace (Nesped) Albert of Marquette and Nicholas Anthony (Victoria) of Jackson. Also surviving is her daughter-in-law Antoinette (Domitrovich) Basile of Washburn, Wisconsin. Edith's sister Erma Millard, of Ontonagon survives, along with sisters-in-law Christine Chamberlain of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin and Roseanne (Frank) Scarpelli of Langhorne, Pennsylvania. She is also survived by grandchildren Anthony Basile, of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Brendan Finerty, Kyle, Samantha and Christopher Basile, of Jackson and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Edith was preceded in death by her husband, John and son, Joseph. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Tollcott and Grace Chamberlain, brothers, Tollcott, Austin, Jimmy and sister, Gladys. Additionally, she was preceded in death by half-sister, Grace (Chamberlain) Hampton.

Visitation will be held Friday, February 17 from 5:00pm-8:00pm at the Cane Funeral Home in Ontonagon. Funeral services will be held at the Ontonagon United Methodist Church, with Pastor Bruce Steinberg officiating, on Saturday, February 18. There will be a visitation from 10:00a.m until the funeral at 11:00a.m. with luncheon to follow at 1:00 p.m.

Burial will take place on Friday, May 11, 2012 at 10 a.m. at Riverside Cemetery in Ontonagon.

Memorials in Edith's name can be made to the Ontonagon United Methodist Church, Ontonagon County Cancer Association or the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette, Michigan.