"Thinking about you today, auntie. I miss you so much. But when I am home next month, I know that I'll feel your presence in the sand under my feet, the wind in my hair, and as I gaze out at our lake. "
In loving memory of
LAURIE ANN HILL LEECE
December 17, 1952 - February 19, 2018
Laurie Ann Hill Leece, age 65 of Marquette, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, February 19, 2018, with her faithful dogs Layla and Finn by her side.
The eldest daughter of Dorothy A. (Cameron) and Edwin G. Hill, Laurie was born in Traverse City, Michigan on December 17, 1952. She graduated with the MSHS class of 1971. After graduating, Laurie moved to Lansing, Michigan and received a bachelors degree from Michigan State University in 1982. Laurie worked her way through college at various restaurants and she always paid her own way for whatever she needed in life.
Upon returning to the U.P., for a while Laurie lived on Lakewood Lane in her very own beach house and many happy family gatherings took place there. She loved the beach, the sand, the water, the sky. The calm and the storms. She loved her dogs, her family, her pool team and her dear friends Sandy Wood and Mary Christiansen. She dearly loved Jack Ghiardi who was so good and kind to her in what would become her sunset years. She often commented on just how lucky she was to have him in her life and her happiness shone through. She loved her nieces and nephews and fiercely loved her great nieces and nephew. She lived for visits and fun time with the younger ones, quite often taking them to the movies, the park (with no end time!), out to eat, delivering sweets and treats out of the blue. Many kindnesses she bestowed upon the children. She truly was a great aunt.
Laurie is deeply missed and survived by her siblings, Steven (Sonia Wiececk) Hill, of Denver, Colorado, Melanie (Willie) Jones of OFallon, Illinois, Cameron (Deirdre) Hill and Kathryn (Brent) Chapman of Marquette; her nieces and nephews, Elena Claros, Tara Hill, Cameron C. Hill, William Jones, Dessa and Abby Chapman; her great nieces, Jasmine, Sophia, Ava, Aurora, Delia and Clementine; and her great nephew, Ashton. She was preceded in death by her parents, many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
A celebration of Laurie's life will take place on Friday, July 6th at 10:30 a.m. in the Canale-Tonella Funeral Home.
Memorials are preferred to UPAWS, PO Box 968, Marquette, MI 49855 in Laurie's memory.
The Canale-Tonella Funeral Home is assisting the family where memories of Laurie may be shared at canalefuneral.com
Tributes
"Our sincere sympathies to you all, Laurie will be missed by all who loved here. Heaven surely has gained a special angel. "
"Although our paths separated as adults, I considered Laurie to be my best friend throughout high school. I remember how impressed I was with how she treated her younger siblings, so it is not surprising that she turned out to be a fablulous auntie. Laurie, spelled the long way, she used to tell people, loved adventure and loved people. We managed to have a lot of crazy fun in high school, but she never forgot she was the daughter of a state detective. It didnt always stop us, but Ed was always on her mind when we contemplated pushing the limits. My memories of her are vast....waiting outside for her like a faithful dog during her piano lessons (even though my own house was only 2 blocks away)..... using the Ouija board to tell us who our future husbands would be.....spending hours with her, only to go home and immediately phone each other (to our parents dismay).....working our school lunch hours at Big Als (thank u Dot for the ride).... going to mass with her......watching the horrors of the Detroit riots unfold on the nightly news and worrying about Ed having to work them.....learning to drive (she was a natural... I was not).....taking long car rides on desolate roads just to see where they go (to this day, I dont know half of where those places were).....getting stuck in a ice storm downstate with a dog and no money (way before cell phone days). There was nothing fake or pretentious about Laurie. She was strong, genuine and beautiful. So its not surprising that her confidence and love of life was especially inspiring to this shy teenager. She will always hold a special place in my heart. Rest In Peace, dear."