Obituary of Frances E. Peterson LaJoie

Frances Elaine Peterson LaJoie was born September 26, 1934 in Caro, MI and quietly departed this life on August 24, 2020. She was the daughter of Carl Irvin Peterson and Oril Hazel Barber Peterson. She graduated from Caro High School in 1952 and worked at the Caro Drive-In and the Strand Theater as a young woman. Frances worked at the Caro State Hospital for 25 years as a nurse's aide. She moved to Florida in 1983 and returned to Michigan in 2020. Frances became a member of the Caro Moose Lodge in 1976, where she once held the office of Senior Regent. She is also a life member of the Marine Corps Auxiliary - Flint Unit. Frances loved watching Lawrence Welk every week and sometimes twice a week, if she could find it on the TV. She loved visiting her family, especially her granddaughters, every summer in Michigan. She was on a bowling league in Florida for many years. She played in many senior tournaments maintaining an average of 140. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, word search puzzles and the gossip magazines. She also enjoyed playing solitaire and other games on her phone. She enjoyed the challenge of a good jigsaw puzzle, just like her dad. Popcorn was a Peterson Family addiction and Frances really enjoyed a bowl of popcorn in the evening, ok, she enjoyed it anytime. One thing that Frances, "Grandma in Florida", as the granddaughters would say, loved to do, was spoil her granddaughters. She delighted in sending them every Disney movie that she could find. They went to Caseville in the summers, did a wine tour in Traverse City, enjoyed Mackinac Island, camping and, of course, they toured Disney World many times when the family visited Florida. She cherished every visit, call, card, letter, email, and most recently Facetime with her granddaughters. She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Shirley Peterson and Wilma Ruth Christian; sons, Wayne Charles LaJoie and James Rodgers LaJoie; Gerald Petersen, her companion of 37 years; and her best friend, Elaine Westfall. She is survived by her daughter, Marie Koch and husband Jim, granddaughters and their husbands, Ashley Sunday (Ed Sunday) and Andrea Lajoie (Rafael Peralta); sister, Carol Piske (Franklin); and many cousins, nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Karen Perrone, Patty Jaholkowski, and the rest of Jaholkowski family, for their love and support during the past few years. Frances loved their company and enjoyed spending holidays with them while she lived in Florida. Patty J. was our angel here on Earth, she orchestrated Fran's move from Florida. She even drove the U-Haul to deliver Fran's belonging back to Michigan. Another special thank you goes to Brenda Levin, Fran's realtor. She made Frances' journey to Michigan so easy. She went above and beyond anything a realtor has ever done. The family will be forever grateful. Frances was cremated and a private ceremony was held at Almer Cemetery in Caro, MI. To sign online guestbook, visit www.cremationsocietymidmi.com Arrangements made with Cremation Society of Mid Michigan