Jacqueline Lavallee

Robin was born on August 25, 1946, at home in St. Ignace, to Elliott Grondin and Ruby Hopkins Grondin. Her dad tagged her with the nickname ‘Robin’ because ‘her mouth was always open like a baby bird.’

Robin started her own family in 1966, marrying Jimmy Vaughn and giving him a son, Todd, and daughter, Sonda. Robin and Jimmy were hardworking and ambitious taking over ownership and operating the Cobble Stone Restaurant, formerly owned and managed by Jimmy’s parents in St. Ignace.

Tragedy struck Robin and Sonda in 1980 with the loss of Jimmy and Todd in a car accident when Todd was just 14 years old.

Robin continued on with the love and support of friends and family, especially her good friend, Betty Sorrels. She furthered her education at NMU, earning a bachelor’s degree and securing a teaching certificate. It was during this time that Robin met John. They were married in 1988 and began the adventure of a life together that would span 37 plus years.

Robin began substitute teaching for Marquette Area Public Schools, Superior Central, and Deerton Onota School. She loved teaching, especially at the Deerton School, and had a wonderful way of connecting with and making children feel special.

Being Native American and a proud member of the Chippewa Tribe, Robin grew up understanding and respecting the importance of nature and wildlife, learning to hunt and fish with her family and later found joy in teaching nephews, nieces and grandchildren. She had the good fortune of bagging the biggest bucks and was quick to let everyone know her buck was bigger than John’s buck.

Robin and John enjoyed boating on the Great Lakes, salmon fishing in Fairport and would bring along anyone willing to go. Even when she was no longer fishing, she would wait for phone calls, usually from her nephew, Curtis, and grandson, Jonathon, to get the latest fishing reports.

She enjoyed living on Lake Superior with John, walking the beach and collecting rocks and beach glass. Robin invited everyone to ‘come and use the beach’ during the beautiful summer months. She had a green thumb when it came to planting and growing flowers. Robin enjoyed cutting grass (better than John) with the riding lawnmower. She welcomed all who visited with a smile, a beer and chair on the screen porch. Holidays were special times celebrated with family feasting on turkey and homemade blueberry pie. Robin loved to cook and found pleasure in watching everyone eat the special meals she prepared. Fall brought smoking of whitefish and turkeys and eventual canning of smoked whitefish. You were special indeed if you earned a jar of canned whitefish and the recipe for whitefish dip! Visiting the casino with her good friend and neighbor, Cindy Elliott, was always a fun time as was rock picking and dune climbing in Grand Marais. Hunting season with family and ‘buck reports’ were always important to Robin as were truck rides with John in the woods.

Winters were spent in Crystal River, FL, with good friends, the Elmhirsts, St. Onges, Perrys, Tatrows, Cooneys and Buzzos, where she enjoyed golfing, riding in her golf cart, visiting the tiki bar and eating shrimp at The Freezer. She loved having company visit, riding on the pontoon down the Crystal and Rainbow Rivers and showing everyone the manatees.

Robin held a special fondness for her nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-nieces and nephews. She took the time to know them, know what was important in their lives and make them feel special. Whether it was streaming or attending basketball games, attending soccer and football games, turkey hunting, looking at deer pictures from the deer cam, getting a fishing report, playing cards or talking to them on the phone, she made every effort to be a part of their lives.

She and John also opened their home to family whenever needed, whether they were between jobs, succumbing to cancer, going to college or trying to stay sober. Robing knew the importance of family and valued them greatly.

A quiet sadness settled over Robin when her daughter, Sonda, lost her battle with substance abuse in 2021, and passed at the age of 53.

Robin was preceded in death by her parents, Elliott and Ruby Grondin; first husband, Jimmy Vaughn; children, Todd and Sonda Vaughn; sister, Sandy Doud; sisters-in-law, Kathrine ‘Kitty’ Grondin and Mary Minor Pizzala; brothers-in-law, Jack Minor, John ‘Jack’ Thousand, Jim LaVallee and Gus Neverman; nephew, Curtis Grondin; and niece, La Taunya Paquin.

Robin is survived by her husband of 37 years, John; brothers, Tony Grondin and Pat (Kathy) Grondin; brother-in-law, Daryl Pizzala; daughters, Julie (Chad Potvin) LaVallee and Amy (Rob) Goodson; grandchildren, Erica Paquette, Jonathon (Brianna) Goodson, Michael (Madison Parsley) Goodson, Tessa Pavia and Emily Pavia; and great-granddaughter, Riley Goodson. Robin was also blessed with many nephews, nieces and great-nephews and nieces. She had a special close relationship with all. She is also survived by special friends, Betty Sorrels and Cindy Elliott.

A special thank you to nurse, Stephanie, therapist, Wendy, friends, Joe and Diane Elmhirst. John and family are especially grateful to sister-in-law, Kathy Grondin and nephew, Derrick Grondin, who were blessedly able to care for Robin as her time of passing grew near. Kind support and assistance were also provided by U.P. Home Health and Hospice and Marquette Home Care.

A celebration of Robin’s life and Native American ceremony will be held in St. Ignace during the late spring of 2026.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is assisting Robin’s family where memories and condolences may be shared at fassbenderswansonhansen.com