Lorraine Lois Francois

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Lorraine Lois Francois went to her Eternal Home on Tuesday, Aug 19, 2014.

Almost 81 years ago she was born to Charles and Nora (Demery) Picard. She grew up on her beloved farm on Dynamite Hill with her family, amongst the lilacs and the apple trees. Here she lived through the Great Depression, living a simple life, filled with beauty, family, and goodness.

She graduated from L’Anse High School and moved on to pursue nursing at St. Joseph’s in Hancock. She was an R.N. here in L’Anse for many years. Nursing wasn’t just a job for her, it was a ministry. She treated her patients with great gentleness and care.

In 1954 she married Richard Bruce Francois, her Life’s Companion for 59 years. On that day they promised to “be true to each other in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health”, til death part them. How faithfully they have kept that promise.

From this union came forth ten children, two boys and eight girls. She made a home for her family, day after day, living the beautiful life of wife and mother. She made the meals, washed the clothes, sang to her babies, kissed their little hurts. She made their home. She was their home.

She gave these children life, she gave them herself, she gave them God. Daily life for her was life with God, reading His Word, singing to Him, talking to Him like He was right there, because she knew…He was. She gave that to her family, thereby giving them everything.

In the End, these children and this husband surrounded her with their love and their prayers, tucking her in and singing to her, loving her like she had always loved them. And when it was time to go, she went with all of her heart and soul. She went to Jesus, into the Land of the Living. And her multitude follows.

Remaining are her husband Richard of L’Anse; children, Jeffery Paul Francois of Baraga and his children, Dana (Crystal) and grandchildren Alexis, Darian, Ava, Chloe; Jeremy (Kasie) and grandchildren Victoria, Seth, Scott, Vincent, Veronica; Jessie and grandchildren Isabella, Gracian; Natalie (Don) Mleko of Baraga and children, Christian Mleko, Joe Francois, Elizabeth (Dan) Connor, Trista, and grandchildren Tristan, Joey, Johnathan, Cara, Daniel; Stuart (Michelle) Francois of L’Anse and children Dominic, Nathan, and grandchildren Damon, Andromeda, Nora; Mary Jeanne (Jeff) Johnston of L’Anse and children Timothy (Stacy) Johnston and grandchildren Ivan, Hannah, Lucy. Julia Johnston, Laura (Michael) Lahti; Catherine Marie (Don) Elliott of Neenah and children Jared, Luke, and granddaughter Fallon Elliott; Ann Louise (Gordon) DeWeese of Owosso, MI and children Cedric, Savannah, Adeline, Isaac, Charles, Charlotte; Jacquelyn Lee (Michael) Velmer of L’Anse and children Michaela, Jessica, Daniel, Rachael, and Zachary; Jeanine Terese Marie (Fernando) Francois-Gonzalez of Ann Arbor, MI and children Terese, Fernando, Felipe, Miguel, Gabriela Ana, Mathew, Eliana, Isabella Sofia, granddaughter Jeanine Terese Black; Sara Elizabeth Bartle of Negaunee, MI and children Joshua, Erica, Monica; Rebecca Clare (Eugenio) Callejas of L’Anse and children Juan Pablo, Samuel, Francisco, Caleb. Sisters Fanchon Boyette of Milwaukee, WI. Lillian Verbanac, of L’Anse, MI. And numerous nieces and nephews.

Gone before her are her brothers, Dr. Charles Picard, Louis Picard; sister, Helen Welsh.

Visitation was held on Wednesday, August 20 ^th from 4-700 p.m. at Jacobson Funeral Home. Parish prayers and rosary were at 7:00 p.m. A funeral Mass was held on Thursday, August 21 ^st at 11:00 A.M. at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church with Fr. Corey Litzner, Fr. Nick Thompson, and Fr. Greg Michaud concelebrating and Deacon John Cadeau. A luncheon followed in the church hall. Burial was  in the L’Anse Evergreen Cemetery. The Jacobson Funeral Home assisted the family.

A special thank you to Fr. Corey and Fr. Nick. We will be forever grateful for everything you did for us during this time.

Friends may sign Lorraine’s guest book or send condolences at www.jacobsonfuneralhome.com .