To the Journal editor:

On behalf of the family of LaRaine Wiggins, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the unwavering support from community members, businesses, relatives, and friends who shared wonderful stories about our Mom, words of kindness, condolences, understanding, letters, cards, food, generous donations and services.

We would like to recognize our Chippewa Tribal Health Care Employees for assistance in defraying costs, referrals & to Nurse April Morgan for her house calls. Thank you for treatment from the many medical specialists at Helen Newberry Joy, Mack Straits and War Memorial hospitals, their nurses, reception staff, pharmacies, emergency room staff, and lab personnel. My Mother experienced exceptional care from Straits Area Assisted Living where activities were provided daily, special Holiday meals were served to residents and families, end of life care was provided, staff and residents were so very helpful and careful in delivering care and became friends and advocates. They went above and beyond to make special meals, provide live music, entertainment, holiday décor, special events, maintenance of their beautiful facility, and accommodated any requests. We were grateful for Lynne Yoder, Manager; Amanda, LPN; Melissa, CNA; Brooke, CNA; Rhonda, recreational director; Tabitha, Cook and all the rest of the staff. Also, the St. Ignace Fire Department came to Mom’s rescue one day when a sewing machine caught on fire. It was embarrassing for her, but they handled it with grace. Marykay Tamlyn, thank you for your beautiful Christmas basket. It brought a smile to Mom’s face with many personal items she loved. Special heartfelt thanks to the Shimkovitz family, Carla Freeman, Mary Brown, Diane Lehto, Pam Pickleman, and my many cousins for your visits to listen to Mom’s history lessons and photos about the area, 40 years of haircuts at Carla’s Curls, for the wonderful family reunion, for cleaning, moving her furniture 3 times over, calling, sending notes and comforting her in her time of need. We cannot thank McLaren Hospice enough for the end-of-life hospice care our Mother received as Karen, RN came daily to check on her, administer any pain meds the doctor prescribed, ordered and brought necessary specialized equipment and to the Bereavement Counselor Dave Johnson in after care of the family. Chris Beaulieu, Mike Duflo, and Tom Evans were extremely organized in funeral preparations, assisted us the night she passed, and did a lot of work behind the scenes. Pastor Kyle Kuehl and Cindy Dagleish were instrumental in spearheading the Grief Share Group, provided services at my Dad’s funeral, and pastor’s wife Kaitlynn was Mom’s right-hand nurse. Can’t thank Dr. Raghu Rao enough for his many years of service to my Mom. Keith Shrader, Sextant saw to it that the grave sites were prepared and continues to clean up and mow grass at Caffey Cemetery. We could not have maintained the driveway, sidewalks, decks, and roofs this past winter without Inside Out Home Services and fall clean up by Josh Morningstar. We certainly appreciated Betsy Costa and staff at Cummings-McCraney for handling the sale of my folk’s home and preparing paperwork. Tony and Kristen Salter were so efficient in handling the sorting through and selling of all the furniture, china, tools, equipment, household items and a life-time of memories.

They say it takes a community to raise a child but it also takes a community to care for the elderly. Please excuse me if I have failed to mention anyone that assisted us during this sad time. We were very blessed for all the assistance given to both my folks Skip and LaRaine Wiggins and their estate. We appreciated it more than you know. Janice and (Glen) Pittman of Newberry and Daniel (Cyndi) Wiggins of Marquette.