Obituary: Gene M. Suino

As received from the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home:

Gene M. Suino 93 of Laurium passed away on March 30, 2022, at Portage Pointe in Hancock where she had been a resident since November 2019.

Gene was born on September 29, 1928, to Millie (Courchaine) & Emil Fontaine in Chassell MI. Her family moved to Tamarack City where she grew up. She attended Dollar Bay schools and graduated with the class of 1948.

 On August 20, 1949, she was united in marriage to Frank G. Suino at St Cecila Church in Hubbell MI. They first lived in Houghton MI where she worked at the JJ Newberry store. Then they moved to Laurium where they lived and raised their four children. They shared 62 years of marriage. Frank preceded her in death on January 19, 2012. 

Gene was a stay-at-home Mom until her youngest children were in high school, and then went to work at FW Woolworths and later JC Penney both in Calumet. Gene was a loving wife, Mom and Grandma and she had many close friends. She was a devoted Catholic who often attended daily mass and was part of a weekly Rosary group for many years. She served her church as a parish council member (serving as the secretary for some time), as a member of the Altar Society, on the funeral lunch committee and later as a collection counter.

Gene loved to sing and did so often. There was music in her heart and because of her we grew up with music in our home. When her kids were eventually all in school, she would sing at funeral masses as another way to serve her church community.

In addition to her church work she was an Auxiliary member and Volunteer at Keweenaw Memorial/Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital, and a member of the Lady Elks, the Altar Society, and Pisano Club.

She and Frank enjoyed many spring trips to Las Vegas and New Orleans for Mardi Gras together, and time spent with their friends at fireman’s’ tournaments and Pisano parties.

She deeply loved her Grandchildren. She enjoyed spoiling them and sewing them new Pjs and holiday dresses for the girls. Her Grandchildren loved her homemade Bread Sticks that she was known for making from a recipe from her husband’s grandmother from Italy (even though she was French). She hosted Holiday Dinners for her Children, Grandchildren, and Great Grandchildren at her home for most of her life and will be greatly missed by all her family.

Gene was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her brother Theadore (Ted) Fontaine, her sisters-in-laws Diane Fontaine, Marie DeMars and Cathy Hamman, her brother-in-law Francis DeMars, and her dear cousin (who was like a sister) Elaine Chaput.

She is survived by her Children – Jeanne (Dan) Schmitt, Karen Johnson, Deb (Charlie) Dlubala, & Bob (Lori) Suino.

 Her Grandchildren are Scott Morrison of Orlando, FL; Jill (Dan) Koskineimi of Laurium, MI; Dawn (Romano) Pauli of West Bend, WI; Kristin Morrison of Metairie, LA; Kelly (Clayton) Powell of Lowell, MI; Stacy (Paul) Wilson of Otsego, MI; Brett Johnson of Metairie, LA; Amber Suino of Grand Rapids, MI; and Brittany Johnson of Metairie, LA. 8 Great Grandchildren, Cameron, Garrett, Cadi, and Griffin Pauli: Bryson and Delaney Powell and Rhett and Ryder Wilson. One brother-in-law Art Hamman of Athens, TN, a special cousin Bernard Chaput of Chassell, and several nieces and nephews.

 Genes’ family would like to sincerely thank the staff of Winona House at Portage Pointe and the numerous aides from At Home Companions who helped us to care for Mom as her dementia progressed. We couldn’t have done it without you, and we will be forever grateful.There will be a visitation service held for Gene Suino on Monday April 4, 2022, from 10:00 am till 11:30 am, at the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass will be held at 12:00 pm on Monday April 4, 2022, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Calumet, MI.

Online condolences for the family may be left at www.ericksoncrowley.com

The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home will be assisting the family with arrangements.