Lorraine Gladys (Clover) Sygnecki, 76, of Bronson, MI passed away Sunday, November 7, 2021 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, MI.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary of Assumption Church in Bronson with Rev. Fr. Dan Hyman officiating. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Visitation will be Monday, November 22, 2021 at Dutcher Funeral Home in Bronson from 3:00–7:00 p.m. with Rosary being recited at 7:00 pm.
Lorraine was born November 30, 1944 to Donald Elmer and Gladys Catherine (Lower) Clover in Valparaiso, IN. She was raised on a dairy farm in Francesville, Indiana until February 1953 when her family moved to Hubbardston, Michigan.
As part of her farm life and caring nature, she helped her Dad on the farm when needed, cooked family meals for her mom, and helped take care of the animals. She started babysitting her nieces and nephews at the age of 11. She was involved in 4-H as a Jr. Leader, a Methodist Camp Counselor at Pentwater Camp, and attended the United Nations Conference in 1962.
She graduated from Carson City High School in 1962 and furthered her education at Lansing Business University. Lorraine raised her two eldest children, Laurie and Doug, in Ionia until 1978.
September 8, 1978 Lorraine married James Leroy Sygnecki at St. Mary’s of Assumption in Bronson where they have lived on the family farm for 43 years. Lorraine was a loving wife, mother to her four children, and homemaker. She managed the household while raising her growing family with her two youngest children, Lynn and Paul, and pitched in on the farm in many ways including driving the tractor and tending to the livestock.
Lorraine was a woman of strong faith. She was a long-time member of St. Mary’s and a member of the Rosary Society for over 40 years. Lorraine made time to build and maintain friendships and supported many organizations with countless volunteer hours as an active member in the Bronson community.
She helped for many years with the Knights of Columbus fish fries and with the dances during the Polish Festival. Lorraine volunteered at the St. Mary’s School while her children attended. She was also the Secretary & Treasurer of the Bronson Dance Club.
Lorraine loved sewing, from making aprons to complete outfits, and especially enjoyed quilting. She found joy in making crafts and holiday ornaments, knitting, reading, photography, singing along with the player piano, and sharing stories from when she was younger. Lorraine was the family genealogist, researching her family back many generations. She made the holidays at home special through her thoughtful preparations of displaying her country village, having the holiday place settings out, and making her famous cranberry jello and potato salad for all to enjoy.
In 1995, Jim and Lorraine purchased a second home in Mackinaw City and split their time between the two homes. She enjoyed many summers and winters in the Straits of Mackinac. Highlights included visiting Mackinac Island in June to experience the beauty and color of lilacs in bloom, see the brightly colored sails during the July sailboat races, and walking the Mackinac Bridge for 15+ years with family and friends.
She would also have her sewing machine with her so she could sew while “up north” and catch up on reading books from her favorite authors when not visiting lighthouses or attending summer music concerts in downtown Mackinaw City, the dog sled races, and tractor shows. Her adventurous spirit took her to many places outside of the Great Lakes region to places like Hawaii, California, Florida, Kansas City, and Japan.
Her true joy in life was being with her family, especially her four grandchildren.
Her warm smile, caring personality, and kind spirit will be fondly remembered. Lorraine is survived by her husband of 43 years, Jim Sygnecki of Bronson, MI; her daughters Laurie Ann Hall-Luscomb of Kalamazoo, MI and Lynn Marie (Nick) Beck of Minneapolis, MN; her sons Douglas LeRoy Sygnecki and Paul James (Hope) Sygnecki all of Bronson; her grandchildren Catherine Ann Hall, Jonathan Percy Hall, Max Walter Beck, and Hanna Lorraine Sygnecki; her brothers James Donald (Marilyn) Clover, and Duane Frank (Gayle) Clover; her sister-in-laws Betty Clover, Carol Adams, and Denise Demarest; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Donald Elmer and Gladys Catherine Clover, her older brother Lyle Leroy Clover and her brother-in-law, James “Jim” Edwin Demarest.
Memorials may be directed to St. Mary’s Assumption School or the Bronson Fire Department. www.dutcherfh.com
Comments