Gloria Genevieve (Lahde) Saari

Gloria was born December 27, 1931 in Palmer to the late Toivo and Caroline (Baldini) Lahde and was a proud graduate of Negaunee St. Paul High School, Class of 1949. She was employed for Bell Telephone for a few years before beginning her career with the lunch programs at Negaunee St. Paul and Negaunee Public Schools.

Gloria was a lifelong devout member at. St. Paul Catholic Church, and was an active volunteer at St. Vincent DePaul, serving her community since 1975. Gloria loved her kids, grandkids, and great grand kids. When they came around, that was always the ‘priority’, taking precedence over any other activity.

She was a very spiritual person throughout her life. Her rosary was often in her hands where she found great comfort. Her Faith was an inspiration to any who knew her. She criticized no one and was accepting and inclusive of all people. She was the most gracious, grateful person most of us had ever known.

Gloria was a wonderful cook who often had delicious dinners in the oven. The smell of fresh bread was normal. Anyone who stopped by were welcome to sit at the table and eat whatever she had. The cookie jar was always full for grandkids and great grandkids and anyone else. Food service through the school extended out to planning events that served food, like weddings, showers and funerals.

In earlier years she and her husband Bruce spent a lot of time at Witz Marina where Bruce would keep his boat on Lake Superior. Very Close relatives were Marcy (Bruce’s sister) and Royal Pascoe who also stayed near them on these camping-fishing trips. They all also had family near Pte Abbaye, near L’Anse, where the whole family spent many weeks in the summer fishing and camping.

Gloria found solace in nature. She loved picking berries. She kept many books of hundreds of tiny pressed flowers, which she made into cards in her early years. She would walk through nature picking them with great care, carefully placing them with tweezers under bright lights.

The ‘Valente’ 300 Wing had become her home where she was loved and taken great care of. She came to love them and they loved her, too.

Surviving are her three daughters, Suzie (Bill Carlson) Saari of Negaunee Township, Toni Saari of Hancock and Vicki Tikkanen of Ishpeming Township; six beloved grandchildren: Teal (Barette) Niemi, Alex (Jamie) Rintala, Emmi Heikkinen, Harley (Sarah) Heikkinen, Heidi (Louie) Verville and Luke (Toni) Tikkanen; 12 great-grandchildren; two brothers: Robert and James Lahde; her sister, Barbara (Gerald) Flannery; brother-in-law, Thomas Richer; and a special cousin, Jeanne (James) Flannery.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Bruce M. Saari in 1999; an infant brother Louis; her sister, Judy Richer; and her sisters-in-law: Nancy Lahde and Virginia Lahde, and H. Marcella (Royal) Pascoe.

Visitation will be held from 3-5pm on Monday, June 15th at St. Paul Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 5:00 pm with Rev. Larry Van Damme and Sister Margey Schmelzle officiating. Luncheon will follow in the St. Paul Gymnasium. Interment will take place in Northland Chapel Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed in Gloria’s memory to St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Mrs. Saari’s memorial page may be viewed at koskeyfuneralhome.com.