Obituary: Lillian Lang

As received from the Pearce Funeral Home:

Lillian “Lil” (Pini) Lang, 82 of Lake Linden passed away on January 19, 2021 at UP Health System- Portage due to complications from Covid19. She passed away peacefully with her loving daughters at her side.

Lillian was born September 13, 1938 in Hubbell, Michigan a daughter of Eugene & Margaret (Mongeau) Pini- the first of their 13 children. After living the first years of her life in Hubbell the family “bought-the-farm” on the Rice Lake road where she then spent her youth. The farm was the nucleus of the family for decades after and where Lil and her siblings worked the farm daily to support the family’s dairy business. It was in these formative years where Lil nurtured her many talents. She became a skilled seamstress, an amazing baker, an avid flower gardener and a talented painter. But her greatest achievement was becoming the “best big sister” to each and every one of her younger siblings. Later with the passing of her mother she then took the position of matriarch for the large Pini clan.

In 1959 she was united in marriage to Donald Dupuis and they would go on to make their home on Chagnon St. in Lake Linden. In 1960 they would begin their family with the arrival of Glenn. Gary followed in 1963, Sherri in 1964 and in 1972 she welcomed her “baby girl” Tami. Lil had one additional child, Stephen, who died in childbirth in 1970.

Through the years Lil worked at various local businesses: The Quality Super Valu (Laurium and Lake Linden) as a “checker,” then as an owner/manager at the White House Restaurant in Mohawk, followed by an office administrator with Waste Management in Houghton and finally retiring from her brothers business, Dave’s Home Improvement, where she was a co-manager.

In 1994 Lil was joined in marriage with the “love of her life” Robert Lang. They made their home in Lake Linden where they spent their retired years reveling in the loving relationships of a large blended and extended family.

Lil was an active volunteer in her community. If any organization needed support Lil was the first person to lend her time and energy. As a devoted Catholic she happily supported activities at St. Joseph’s church in Lake Linden. She gave graciously of her free time to the LLHHS library foundation and then found great purpose when her special friend Kay asked her to support the `31 Backpacks’ organization. She loved the mission of this charity and championed it until her passing.

In her free time Lil loved to golf like most of her Pini family enjoying time-on-the-links in Calumet and Mohawk. She was incredibly proud of being part of the 2018 champion team at the Pini Open annual family golf scramble. Her presence at this event and all family gatherings going forward will be sorely missed.

Lillian was preceded in death by her parents and three siblings: Paul, David and Carol.

She is survived by her husband Robert and children, Glenn (Cindy) Dupuis of Visalia, CA, Gary (Tammie) Dupuis of Calumet, MI, Sherri Juntikka of New Berlin, WI, Tami (Lionel) Dupuis-Michaud of Verbier, Switzerland, Mike (Rose) Lang of Texas and Brinda (Vernon) Dukart of Lake Linden, MI. Lil leaves behind her heart broken grandchildren and great grandchildren whom have known her great pride and joy that each one of them brought to her: Cody Juntikka, Jayme (Blake), Piper & Jet Slayton, Alyssa, Samantha & Tyler Dupuis, Sébastien & Amélie Michaud, Amie (Mark), Hayes & August Austin, Robert (Rachel), Callie & Leif Dukart, Jennifer (Andy), Reagan & Davis Moyle, Mandy & Kendra Lang.

Surviving siblings of Lillian include, Eugene Jr., Louis (Larry) Manzetti, Margaret Sue Jones, Mary (Roger) Isola, Alice Schmitt, Doris (Jim) Manzetti, John (Jodi) Pini, Robert “Jake” Pini, and Jerry (Penny) Pini, along with numerous other loving relatives.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, January 28th at 11 am at St. Joseph’s Church in Lake Linden. The Pearce Funeral Home in Lake Linden is in charge of arrangements.

The graveside services for Lillian and Robert Lang will be at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, July 2, 2021 at the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Lake Linden with Fr. Joseph Boakye Yiadom to officiate. The Copper Country Veterans Association will conduct Military Rites for Robert.

In lieu of gifts or flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to ’31 backpacks’ in her honor- as she was selfless to the end.

Finally, the family would like to extend their incredible thanks to their mom’s cherished friend and physician Dr. Thomas McConnon and to the compassionate team at Portage Health. Dr. Labonte and Nurse Jenny and the entire PHS team were sources of incredible comfort to the family during Lil’s final days.

Online condolences may be left at pearcefuneralhome.com