Negaunee, MI- Alice LaForge 80, passed away peacefully at Eastwood Nursing Center in Negaunee on October 12th. She was an amazing wife, sister, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother (Nana). The daughter of the late Phillip and Ruby Frustaglio, wife of the late Paul LaForge. She leaves behind a dysfunctional family that was the center of her life. Her children: Joe (Peggy) LaForge, Debbie (Dale) LaForge-Pagel, Donna (Pat) Gransinger and Lee LaForge. Her Grandchildren: Kris (Larry) Sawdo, Mike Laxo, Joseph (Rachel) LaForge II, Chera LaForge, Jacob Gransinger, and Noah Gransinger. Her Great Grandchildren: Ariel Laxo, Angelica Laxo, Mike Laxo, Alex Sawdo, Riley Sawdo and Darius LaForge. Her siblings: Philip (Heather) Frustaglio, and sisters Bernie (Bill) Heavysides, Chris (Jim) McCormick and the late Grace (Paul) Maddock. Her extended family: The entire staff of Eastwood Nursing Center.

Alice was well known for her gift of crafts. She spent years teaching people to knit, crochet, quilt, sew and cross stich. She also spent years putting together recipe books that she never used…which was unfortunate because although she was crafty, she hated to cook. She did teach us that nothing is burnt if you can scrape the top layer off (it's not burnt. It's dark brown), and that fried eggs are supposed to have brown (Doily) edges. Alice was a fan of the Swan's corporation and was the sole supporter of the man who delivered her more frozen foods and containers of ice cream that currently in stock at GFS.

Alice was also known for her pearls of wisdom. She told more than one complaining child about how she had to walk to school come rain or shine...which was actually true. She also taught us all to make sure we sleep in the buff to let our hoo hoos breathe, to clean our house daily (this lesson was lost on me), and that family is the most important thing in the world. She was genuine and loving, a true pussy cat at heart (or a lion depending on the day) and she sugar coated nothing. Her vocabulary was vast and came from having to study the dictionary as a child, and apparently working with a ship of sailors because she was also proficient at cursing. She had attitude, spunk, tenacity, wit, charm, grace and a great grip (ask any of Eastwood's aides).
Alice loved to garden…and by gardening I mean using pruning shears to clean the trees from the islands in front of the camp. She loved her camp and it looks exactly like she would have wanted it. So yeah, we all put away the rugs in the kitchen, and no one ever uses the table cloth because it's just going to get dirty….but we sure do put them right back where they are supposed to be when we leave.

Alice was a special kind of person. She loved and welcomed everyone. She loved her family and considered them to be her everything. She loved her kids, their first moments were surrounded by her, and her last moments surrounded by them. She left this world love, and left this world loved.

Per Alice's wishes the family will be holding a private memorial at a later date.

Alice's obituary may be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.