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Laila I. Poirier

ISHPEMING, MI – Laila I. (Ellis) Poirier, 90 formerly of Ishpeming and more recently of Lost Creek in Marquette and briefly of Eastwood Nursing Center in Negaunee passed away July 18 in the Upper Peninsula Health System’s hospice suite surrounded in love by her family and under the wonderful care of U.P. Home Health and Hospice.

She was born April 12, 1927 in Pequaming, MI to Ernest and Hilja (Viirta) Ellis. She married Edward Poirier Jr. on April 12, 1949.

Survived by two sons, Michael and Tim (Joanne) of Ishpeming, a daughter Tina (Dan) McFadden, grandchildren Dan (Sherri) Poirier of Cottage Grove, MN, Tom, John, Michael and Maggie McFadden of Marquette, and Joanne’s son, Nathan (Kristen) Olgren, a sister Martha Harju of L’Anse, six nieces, five nephews, and several great and great great nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by her loving husband of 53 years, Ed, her parents, mother and father-in-law Edward and Cora (LaJoie) Poirier, Sr., dear sister Elsie, dearest brother Sulo, their spouses Mylo Paquet and Evelyn Ellis, sisters-in-law Cecilia Nelson and Mary Thomas and their husbands Ken and Bill, and brother-in-law Wilber Harju, nephews Clifford Harju and David Paquet along with aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends.

Laila was employed for many years as a cook at the Mather Inn in Ishpeming where she made many friends and had a lot of fun with her coworkers.

That’s where she also met and introduced her daughter, Tina to her future husband of 32 years. She took great pride in the fact that she “picked a good one!”

She was a member of St. Joseph Church in Ishpeming for 69 years but has also been taken care of spiritually by St. Michael Catholic Church in Marquette for the past 17 years. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Altar Society and was known for her soups for the luncheons, past leader of the Daughters of Isabella and member of the Blue Notes Parents Club. Some of the self-proclaimed best times of her life were family road trips, days spent with her grandchildren, a trip to Finland to see where her mother was born, and many years spent chaperoning the Blue Notes where she had just as much fun, if not more, as the kids! Laila found great pleasure in caring for others; she cooked and cared for many elderly and sick neighbors, was a foster mother, another “mom” for many and freely shared herself and love of life with everyone

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 PM Friday July 21, 2017 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ishpeming with Fr. Dan Moll and Fr. Greg Heikkala as con-celebrants. Interment will take place in the Ishpeming Cemetery.

Laila’s family will greet relatives and friends at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Friday from 12:00 noon until the time of service. A luncheon will follow the service in the church fellowship hall.

Pallbearers will be grandsons: Daniel Poirier, Thomas, John and Michael McFadden and nephews: Oliver Paquet and Gene Marion.

Laila’s family would like to thank Upper Peninsula Home Health and Hospice staff, especially the two Sarah’s and Dani, Dr. Pires, the angels (nurses) of the Emergency Department, Cardiac and Rehab Units, and special friend of the family, Maureen Sullivan for their love and care of Laila and her family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Laila’s name are requested for UPHH &H or Bay Cliff Health Camp.

Laila’s obituary may be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note remembrance.