Joyce Dupras

She is survived by her three children Denise Dupras (Kileen Smyth), Jodi Fedeson (Brian), Kristen Linna (Kirk), nine grandchildren Derek Fedeson (Julia), Erin Kazmierski (Mark), Renee Fedeson, Amy Howell (Joshua), Courtney Glaser (Ryan), Zach Linna (Val Bayer), Abbie Brusich (Michael), Jake Linna (Lindsey), Matt Linna, five great grandchildren and her brother Ronald Hill (Ruth).

She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Thomas W Dupras, who died in 2013.

She was born on February 2, 1937 in Marquette, Michigan to Ester and Jorma Hill. She attended Gravereat High School, graduating as valedictorian and gave the commencement speech. The quote in her yearbook above her picture was âShe knows what she wants to do, and she does it.ã This described her perfectly and foreshadowed how she lived her life.

She went on to the University of Michigan where she met her future husband, Thomas Dupras and graduated in 1958 magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration.

She married Thomas Wayne Dupras on September 6, 1958, and they moved to Ishpeming, Michigan in 1959. She and her husband opened the Giving Tree Cards and Gifts. Later in 1988 they opened Parties Unlimited and a balloon decorating that garnered the couple national recognition at JUBILEE! ’94 a convention and trade show in Las Vegas. She was a successful entrepreneur, being named âBusiness Person of the Yearã in 1995.

She had multiple interests, among them playing cards particularly pinochle, cribbage, word games (word search, crosswords), sudoku, puzzles, and anything that she felt would keep her brain sharp. Her love of travel took her across the US and to Europe with her husband and later with her daughters. She was proud of her Finnish heritage and a key organizer of the International Finn Grand Fest held in Marquette, MI in 2005. She possessed inner strength that the Finns dub ‘Sisu’.

She moved into the Meadowlark Retirement Community in 2021 where she brought her zest for life and energy with her. She found friendship and love in her new home. She learned Wii bowling and in exchange she introduced the game mexican train. She organized movie night and soon was petitioning her family for DVDs and BluRay movies. She could never pass the puzzle table without stopping to put in a few pieces. Her days were full and she flourished. She found a community of faith that was always an important part of her life. She was crowned ‘Applefest Queen’ and made the cover of Community, a magazine published from Brio Living Services.

She was known to say if her life ended, it was ok because she had had a full life without regrets. This was the ending she would have written to her story and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

A Celebration of Life Mass will be held on June 21, 2025 at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Marquette, Michigan. Visitation is at 9:30 AM with a mass at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a donation to your favorite charity.