Elizabeth “Sis” Coron

Elizabeth was born in Ishpeming on February 28, 1920, to the late William and Delia (Beaumier) Gauthier. Having left high school during her freshman year to assist the family in caring for her ailing grandmother during the Great Depression she returned to NICE Community Night School in later years and earned her diploma in 1979, graduating as valedictorian of her class at the age of fifty-nine.

Elizabeth married Leo Coron on July 28, 1945, and spent forty-three years together until his passing in 1988. “Sis” and Leo enjoyed extensive domestic travels together after his retirement from CCI.

Elizabeth was a “Gossard Girl” having worked at the H. W. Gossard Garment Factory in Ishpeming for six years prior to her marriage, and for a brief time in later years worked as a sales associate at Merrick’s Variety Store in Ishpeming.

Sis and Leo were founding members of the Blue Notes Parents Club in 1957. She assisted in organizing and promoting Blue Notes fundraising events in the early days of the corps. She also took an active role assisting Leo, an active member of the Pioneer Kiwanis, with planning and facilitating annual Christmas parties and other events throughout the years for special needs children in the community.

Elizabeth was a lifelong member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ishpeming. For many years she was an active member of St. Joseph Ladies Guild (Alter Society); she sang in the parish choir and also the combined (St. Joseph/St. John) funeral choir. She was a long-standing member of the Catholic women’s organization the Daughters of Isabella, and a lifelong member of the St. Anne Society of St. Joseph Parish, serving a stint as treasurer. For a time, she was a member of the Lady Elks in Ishpeming.

Dedication to family was important to Sis. She took great pride in being a “stay at home” wife and mom, an excellent cook, baker, seamstress and housekeeper. Until well along in years, she corresponded regularly with out-of-town relatives and the many friends she made while spending winter months in Southern California as a widow.

One of her favorite pastimes in her late seventies/early eighties was enjoying her beloved Bichon Frise canine pal “DeJon,” taking daily walks, long drives and visiting friends and acquaintances with her at local nursing homes.

She is survived by sons Douglas Coron, David (Nancy) Coron; grandchildren Jennifer (Neil) Armatti, David (Rebecca) Coron, Jr., and Crystal (Jason) Tatge; great grandchildren Derek (Stacey) Hill, Tyler Hill, Abram McKindles, Leo Tatge; great great grandson Cameron Hill and great great granddaughters Hailey and Harper Hill; nephews Tom (Sandi) Gauthier, Jim (Sue) Gauthier; sisters-in-law Mary Coron and Marjorie Caron.

Elizabeth was predeceased by her parents William and Delia Gauthier, her husband Leo, brothers William Lloyd (Goldie) Gauthier, Paul (Betty) Gauthier and her sister Germaine “GG” (Unto) Myllymaki and numerous brothers and sisters-in-law.

Her family will greet relatives and friends at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ishpeming from 11:00 AM – 12:00 Noon on Monday April 22, 2024, A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 Noon, will Fr. Ryan Ford to officiate. Family and friends are invited to attend a luncheon in the church hall following the Mass. The Mass will be livestreamed which can be found at ishpemingcatholic.com/live.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Joseph Memorial Fund in Elizabeth’s memory.