Laurie Ann Hill Leece

The eldest daughter of Dorothy A. (Cameron) and Edwin G. Hill, Laurie was born in Traverse City, Michigan on December 17, 1952. She graduated with the MSHS class of 1971. After graduating, Laurie moved to Lansing, Michigan and received a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in 1982. Laurie worked her way through college at various restaurants and she always paid her own way for whatever she needed in life.

Upon returning to the U.P., for a while Laurie lived on Lakewood Lane in her very own beach house and many happy family gatherings took place there. She loved the beach, the sand, the water, the sky. The calm and the storms. She loved her dogs, her family, her pool team and her dear friends Sandy Wood and Mary Christiansen. She dearly loved Jack Ghiardi who was so good and kind to her in what would become her sunset years. She often commented on just how lucky she was to have him in her life and her happiness shone through. She loved her nieces and nephews and fiercely loved her great nieces and nephew. She lived for visits and fun time with the younger ones, quite often taking them to the movies, the park (with no end time!), out to eat, delivering sweets and treats out of the blue. Many kindnesses she bestowed upon the children. She truly was a great aunt.

Laurie is deeply missed and survived by her siblings, Steven (Sonia Wiececk) Hill, of Denver, Colorado, Melanie (Willie) Jones of O’Fallon, Illinois, Cameron (Deirdre) Hill and Kathryn (Brent) Chapman of Marquette; her nieces and nephews, Elena Claros, Tara Hill, Cameron C. Hill, William Jones, Dessa and Abby Chapman; her great nieces, Jasmine, Sophia, Ava, Aurora, Delia and Clementine; and her great nephew, Ashton. She was preceded in death by her parents, many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

Funeral services for Laurie will be held in July at a date to be announced.

The Canale-Tonella Funeral Home is assisting the family where memories of Laurie may be shared at canalefuneral.com.