Obituary of Meredith Ann Dupuis

Meredith Anne Dupuis May 21, 1944-February 6, 2022 Meredith Anne Dupuis died on February 6, 2022. She had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2002, and the disease took far too much of her mind and spirit years before her body surrendered at age 77. Meredith is missed desperately by her husband Bill Dupuis, daughter Rebecca Kavanagh, son J.P. Kavanagh, son-in-law Don Jozwiak, daughter-in-law Erin Kavanagh, and grandchildren Sophia and Jackson Jozwiak, and Riley and Grady Kavanagh. She was preceded in death by her mother Barbara Rogers, father J. Harold “Hal” Rogers, sister Judith Mann (survived by David) and brother Robert “Bob” Rogers (survived by Cherie). Her birth family and childhood friends called her Meri, which was appropriate because she was merry. Very. Meredith was born in Lansing, where she was a cheerleader, a professional giftwrapper, and a devoted friend to Donna Zopf, among many others. She earned an education degree from Central Michigan University and began a long career as a teacher. Together with John Kavanagh, she brought two children into the world (between Becky and J.P. was Matthew, who died at birth in 1973, and who forever held a place in his mother’s heart). In 1978, Mer and the kids moved to Caro and she created a new life for them all. Bill joined the family and the two married on June 13, 1981. Mer was quickly and lovingly embraced by the Dupuis family, each of whom will mourn her always but most significantly during Dupuis Family Christmas, at Crystal Lake, and during family vacations where adventure, food and laughter are on the agenda. Just as her family remembers her for the love and thoughtfulness with which she cared for them all, numerous groups and organizations benefited from her expertise. The bulk of her teaching career was spent as the special education preschool readiness teacher at Highland Pines, helping the very youngest students in the district learn how to learn. During her tenure with Tuscola Intermediate School District, Mrs. D’s work extended beyond the classroom in several key ways, including Michigan Education Association leadership and as puppeteer with Kids on the Block, which traveled to general ed classrooms across the Thumb to teach compassion for special needs students. Toward the end of her career, Meredith took herself back to the classroom to earn autism certification in order to better meet the needs of students on the spectrum. As hard as she worked, Mer loved to have fun. She had a gaggle of friends who supported and adored her, including all the ladies who escaped to the Tree Farm for a wild weekend each winter. She took the stage in a few Caro Arts Society productions, most notably as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan opposite Woody Crutchfield in M.A.S.H. She was Martha Stewart before that was a thing, making each home more comfortably chic than the last with impeccable décor and impressive greenery inside and out. She kept her house company-clean while singing along to her favorite soundtracks, including Jesus Christ Superstar and Les Misérables. She doted upon her furry friends, and we trust that Alfie, Sushi and Rosie greeted her with happy yaps at the Pearly Gates. In 1999, she was christened with a new name, and eventually four grandchildren came to call her GrandMer. Through traditions and stories, Sophia, Jackson, Riley and Grady will carry forth the spirit of GrandMer, who was over-the-moon in love with each of them. Our family would like to thank Shelly and her tireless team of Vadavilla caregivers, as well as the Hospice care professionals for their compassionate devotion. Family and friends will gather in Caro at Sacred Heart Catholic Church for a Celebration of Life at 11 a.m. on May 7, 2022 in honor of Meredith’s birth month and Mother’s Day weekend. Details are forthcoming. For now, please share your memories of Mer on her photo-filled memorial page at forevermissed.com/meredith-dupuis/. To sign online guestbook, visit www.cremationsocietymidmi.com In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to Hospice of Michigan (www.hom.org), Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) or Autism Society of Michigan (www.autism-mi.org/donate/). We love you so much, Mer, Mom, GrandMer. See you in the morning with a full line of samples. Arrangements made with Cremation Society of Mid Michigan.