Obituaries

Alfreda F. LaCross

Died Nov. 28, 2015

Alfreda Florence LaCross, 91, of Lake Leelanau passed away on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015 at Munson Hospice House with her family by her side, loving and supporting her.

Alfreda was born on Aug. 24, 1924, at the Horn family farm on Christensen Rd. in Leelanau Twp. to Frederick and Alma Horn. They were descendants of early Leelanau County pioneers of German and Norwegian heritage. Alfreda had fond memories of her early school years riding on a horse and sleigh to class. She was a graduate of the Northport Public High School class of 1942.

Alfreda met Urban LaCross at a dance in Cedar. She liked him because he would sing to her and was a lighthearted and handsome young man. She and Urban married at the Rectory of St. Mary Lake Leelanau on Jan. 3, 1944 when he was home on leave from the U.S. Army. The reception was held at Dan's Bar for family and friends. Urban was deployed to Europe during World War II, and Alfreda lived with her family and gave birth to her first child, Jeffrey, while her husband was away. Upon completion of his military service, their second son, Glenn, was born. The couple enjoyed almost 72 years of marriage.

Alfreda was ambitious and had a strong work ethic. At the age of 14, she began her working career at the Omena Inn. For 25 years, she cared for patients as a licensed Psychiatric Nurse at the Traverse City State Hospital. She was highly regarded for her compassionate care and skillfulness in handling difficult cases. She and Urban also had two rental cottages on their waterfront property of their Lake Leelanau home, which they had built in their early years. The roadside sign of "We Kan Tuc U In" reflected her spirit of gracious hospitality.

She and Urb traveled extensively in their retirement years to destinations across the continental United States and Hawaii, Canada, and in Europe. They enjoyed many winters in Gulf Shores, AL, relaxing with Leelanau Co. friends also wintering there, as well as numerous visits by their own sons, wives, and grandchildren.

As a member of St. Mary Parish, Alfreda believed in giving of her time, talent, and treasure to help further the mission of the church and school. She served as a dedicated quilter, member of the Altar Society, and Eucharistic Minister. A focus of her church ministry was volunteering and, for several years, spearheading the annual Chicken Dinner Country Store, a major fundraiser for the event. She also was a proud member of the local VFW Auxiliary Post 7731.

One of the many ways in which "Nana" expressed her love for her family was through her cooking and baking. The family remembers the tastes of her steak tartar ("raw hamburg") on crackers, and her homemade pickled bologna. She was famous for her Texas sheet cake and for making swan-shaped cream puffs for her grandchildrens' First Communion celebrations. The grandchildren especially remember Nana's tradition of baking a "ring in the cake" -- whoever found the ring in his or her piece would win a prize.

Alfreda ("Fif") was always willing to listen and offer great wisdom and advice to her family and friends, never judgmental. Fif was fun-loving, energetic, talented with needlework, and loved a good game of euchre, which she always played to win, and often did win! Nana always made time to play with her grand and great grandchildren, with many spirited card and domino games. She had a great imagination, shown in her telling of "Pat and Begory" stories, organizing Easter egg hunts, dressing up for Halloween, and celebrating all family birthdays.

When asked how she wanted to be remembered, she simply stated as "a woman of goodness and love".

Alfreda is survived by her husband, Urban; her children, Jeffrey (Jean) and Glenn (Judy) LaCross; a brother, Gilbert Horn; her grandchildren, Jesse LaCross, Joseph LaCross, Suzanna LaCroix, Ben LaCross, and Maria Okorn; great grandchildren, Lane, Luke and Adeline, Isabel, Louie and Oliver, Keaton, Lauren and Cameron, and Harper.

She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Nettie, Melvin, Walt, Bill, Albert, Carl and Orville.

Special thanks and gratitude to the staffs of Suttons Bay Tendercare and Munson Hospice House for their compassionate care of our Mom and Nana.

The family will greet friends on Friday, Dec. 4 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. with the Rosary prayed at 7 p.m. at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay. The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary Church, Lake Leelanau. Father Michael Janowski will serve as celebrant. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to St. Mary Church or St. Mary School Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 340, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653; or Resident Council at Tendercare of Leelanau, 124 W. Fourth St., Suttons Bay, MI 49682; or Munson Hospice House, 1105 Sixth St., Traverse City, MI 49684.


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