Dorothy was born July 28, 1929 in Escanaba the daughter of George and Agnes (Chenier) King. She was raised in Escanaba and Flat Rock and was a 1947 graduate of the Escanaba High School. Dorothy married Patrick LaFave on February 7, 1948 at All Saints Church and they made their home in Gladstone where they raised their eight children. Dorothy was a member of All Saints Church and a well known caterer in the Delta County area. Some of you can probably remember her delicious meatballs, baked beans and turkey! She was “Mom” to many as she raised her children on Michigan Avenue in Gladstone. Her home was always filled with smells of great food and sounds of laughter and noisy kids. She as dedicated to her children and her home life except for her weekly night out, playing bingo in the basement of All Saints Church.
The grandchildren and great-grandchildren who came later all gave her great pride and enjoyment. After her husband’s death, she moved from her safe-haven in Gladstone Michigan and adventurously moved to Arizona making her home with youngest daughter, Theresa, and her husband, Steve. Mom was a generous, fun-loving woman who could tell a great story. Her endearing ways will be greatly missed by all. Mom: you are now free to move about the heavens!
Survivors include:
2 sons: Patrick (Linda) LaFave of Surprise, AZ; Michael (Diane) LaFave of Yorkville, IL
6 daughters: Mary (Meck) Penley of Mancelona, MI; Victoria (D.J.) Couillard of Gladstone, MI; Laura (Emmanuel) LaFave-Lupe of Westwood, CA; Barbara (Michael) Boor of Tempe, AZ; Tina (Clint) Syers of Gladstone, MI; Theresa (Steve Kreutzberg) LaFave of Peoria, AZ
She is survived by 5 grandchildren: Rebecca (Joseph) Lemire of Escanaba, Nicole (Jamie) Siedlecki of Gladstone, Joseph (Laura) Couillard of Yorktown, VA, Jeremy (Gina) Couillard of Flagstaff, AZ and CJ Syers of Gladstone; 8 great- grandchildren: Thomas, Rachel, Jacob, Nicholas, Colin, Kailey, Taylor and Chance; Sister, Lorraine Froberg ; Brothers, Lawrence (Jack), Francis (Curly), Richard, John King; Brother-in-law Chuck Wheatley.
Numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband Patrick on August 8, 1995 , her sister, Rose Wheatley, brothers, Henry, Donald, and Robert King, and son-in-law D.J. Couillard
Dorothy’s family will receive friends on Friday March 2, 2007 from 3:00 P.M. to 4:30 P.M. at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Funeral services celebrating the life of Dorothy Mae LaFave will follow at 4:30 P.M. with Rev. Fr. Emmett Norden officiating. Luncheon will follow services at the Gladstone American Legion Hall. Burial will be in the Gardens of Rest Cemetery in Wells, MI.
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