BettyAnn DeFiore

BettyAnn was born in Kingsford, the daughter of Emmett and Lorraine (Marcou) Lough. Her family moved to Iron Mountain and she was raised there, graduating from Iron Mountain High School.

In 1952, she married Michael E. DeFiore and in 1954 they moved to the Metropolian Detroit area settling in the city of Westland in 1958. There, they grew their famiy to six children and BettyAnn flourished as a stay-at-home Mom.

Her family was always her first priority making sure her children were given opportunities to play musical instruments, take dance lessons, play sports, participate in scouting programs attend summer camp and, in general, just be kids.

BettyAnn was an excellent cook, talented seamstress, played guitar, enjoyed Bridge club and loved getting together with family for summer vacations at Spread Eagle Lakes. Her smile was contagious!

In 1969, BettyAnn and her mother Lorraine, attended the Bannow Floral School of Design. In a joint venture, BettyAnn and Mike along with her parents, purchased the Gladstone Floral Co., and they moved their family back to the U.P to Gladstone in the fall of 1970.

BettyAnn became an avid golfer and was a long time member of the Gladstone Golf Club and also participated in tournaments across the U.P. for 50 years, enjoying the game from early spring into late fall.

BettyAnn is survived by her six children, Cindy, Connie, Paula, Chris, John and Don (and their spouses); 13 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild, her sister MaryJane Nelson of Niagara, Wis., her brother-in-law Dale McNamee, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceeded in death by her husband, Michael, her parents and her dearly beloved brother, John.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, Aug. 24, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1 p.m. at All Saints Catholic Church in Gladstone. A luncheon will follow services in the Church Fellowship Hall. BettyAnn will be laid to rest in the Fernwood Cemetery in Gladstone.

Memorial contributions in BettyAnn’s name may be made directly to the Saint Vincent de Paul Society of Gladstone.

The DeFiore family would like to extend a heartfelt “thank you” for the loving care our mother received at the Sunnyview Home in Flatrock.

For additional information or to leave the family a message of condolence, go to http://www.skradskifuneralhomes.com/.