Bertha M. “Babe” Carpenter, age 100, of Escanaba, formerly of Manistique passed away Friday, July 18, 2008 at the Christian Park Village in Escanaba.

Babe was born February 29, 1908 in Manistique, the daughter of Laura Mae DeRoche. Babe was a lifelong resident of Manistique except for the few years during World War II that she worked for the Chevrolet Defense Plant in Flint and the Coventry Pottery Plant in Barberton, Ohio. She spent the last few years of her long and wonderful life with her daughter, Jerry, in Escanaba. Babe was a longtime member of the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Manistique and also attended St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Escanaba when she could. Babe was very active. She did volunteer work with handicap children, held offices with the VFW and the Elkettes in Manistique, was an excellent bowler-she sponsored “Babes Go-Getters”, was an avid golfer and loved going to the casino. Babe would also spend her winters in Tuscan, AZ and Las Vegas, NV.

Babe is survived by:

2 daughters: Betty Jane (Louis Joe) Pucek Jr. of Arlington, TX; Jerry LaVigne of Escanaba, MI

8 Grandchildren: Linda Marie (Jim) Gautney, Kathy Ann Whitney (Lori Makeham), David Pucek (Gregg Farnsworth), Kimberley (Eric) Cerney, Audette (Ed) Olson, Guy (Tina) LaVigne, Gary (Jackie) LaVigne, Garth (Letitia) LaVigne

21 Great Grandchildren

25 Great Great Grandchildren

She was preceded by:

Husbands, Chester Whitcomb and Archie Carpenter; Step-Son, James Carpenter; Sister, Margaret; Brother, Antoine; Her parents; and Son-In-Law, Orville LaVigne

The Carpenter family will receive friends on Friday, July 25, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Skradski-Boyce Funeral Home in Escanaba. Memorial services celebrating Babe’s life will be at 1:00 PM at the funeral home.