Denise Lessard

Born on June 7, 1941, in Ste Camille, Quebec Canada, Denise was the daughter of Walter and Juliette (Tardiff) Pouliot. The seventh child in a family of 14, she enjoyed all the best parts of a simple upbringing and the treasured moments of growing up in a big family of nine brothers and four sisters.

On July 6, 1963, she married Claude Yvon Lessard at the Catholic Church in Ste Camille, Quebec, Canada. In the spring of 1964 they welcomed a son, Daniel, while living in Montreal, Quebec. Later in 1964, Claude and Denise made the decision to move their young family to the United States, settling into a life in Milford, Mich. Two more children, Gary and Julie, arrived making the family complete. In their later years they lived in Glennie and Iron Mountain. Together they shared 62 wonderful years filled with love, family, and deep companionship.

Denise enjoyed the simple things in life — spending time with her family, traveling, golfing, and bonfires. She was known for her kind heart, steady presence, and a willingness to help anyone in need.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Claude; two sons, Daniel (Pam) Lessard of New Hudson, Mich., and Gary (Karen) Lessard of Iron Mountain; a daughter, Julie (Keith) Dantes of Iron Mountain; eight grandchildren, Tina (Chris) Thomas, Tony (Kelly) Lessard, Samantha (Nick) Cooper, Marc (Kasey) Lessard, Stephen (Sara) Lessard, Necia (Ben) Lessard, Dallas (Sam) Dantes and Austin Dantes; eight great-grandchildren, Alana, Nathan, Lola, Preston, Sheldon, Bellaire, Everett, and Noelle; six brothers, Robert (Lilianne), Gaston (Edith), Jacque (Lily), Raymond (Lize), Jean (Ginette), Alain; and three sisters, Carmen (Wilfred), Monique, and Raymonde (Ronald); and more than 50 nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Denise was preceded in death by her brothers, Charles Edouard, Charles, Edouard; and sister, Jocelyne; as well as sisters-in-law, Clare and Fernande.

A visitation will be held on Sept. 6 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home in Iron Mountain and a noon funeral service with a luncheon to follow at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center at 325 E. H St., Iron Mountain, MI 49801, ATTN: Volunteer Service, to help America’s military service veterans.

Condolences to the family of Denise Jeanne d’Arc Lessard may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.