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UPDATE: A Mass of Christian Burial for Lyda Stimac will be held 11:00 am Thursday, August 6, 2026, at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church of Houghton. Burial will be in the Forest Hill Cemetery of Houghton. Friends may call on Thursday, August 6, 2026, from 10:00 am un til time of services at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church of Houghton.
Lyda Stimac, age 102, a longtime resident of Houghton, passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at the Omega House in Houghton.
She was born on November 2, 1923, in Hancock, becoming the 4th child of Guilo and Tisbe Paoli, who arrived in America from Italy in the early 1900’s.
Lyda lived in Hancock for 12 years before moving to South Range, where her father was beginning a grocery store business. She entered 7th grade at the local South Range elementary school. After graduating, she attended Jeffers High School in Painsdale, traveling by train every morning to get to school. She studied the commercial course and graduated in 1941.
Upon high school graduation, she went to work for 8 years at her father’s grocery store “Paoli’s Market”. In 1949, she married George Stimac of Painsdale, who preceded her in death in 1976. Lyda had 3 children and was a stay-at-home mom for 17 years. In 1967, she became employed at the Houghton County Courthouse in the Clerk’s office and later for the Friend of the Court. She retired in 1987 after 20 years.
Lyda had many friends and enjoyed playing Scrabble and other games that challenged her mind with them. She loved to dance and was in bowling leagues with George when they were younger. After retiring, she took up golf and cross-country skiing and loved to walk. She was never one to sit around. She was a member of the Daughter’s of Italy, Croatian Lodge and St. Ignatius Loyola church. She was also an active volunteer for the Calumet Theatre, Omega House, Little Brothers of the Elderly, Portage Hospital, St. Ignatius Church, and drove friends to doctor appointments and grocery shopping.
Besides her parents and husband, Lyda was preceded in death by her 3 sisters; Linda (Joseph) La Roche, Angelina (Clifford) Paulson, Julia (Joseph) Pleshe, and 3 brothers; Lido (Mary Ann) Paoli, Guido (Lucy) Paoli and Joseph (Arbutus) Paoli.
Lyda is survived by 3 daughters; Patricia of Houghton, Noreen (Thomas) Powers of Thousand Oaks, California, Mary Jo (Thomas) Liston of
Silverthorne, Colorado, one granddaughter, Sloane Powers of Thousand Oaks, California and numerous nieces and nephews.
A mass and celebration of life will be held later this summer at St. Ignatius Loyola church.
Memorials can be made to St. Ignatius Loyola Church or the Omega House in the name of Lyda Stimac.
To view Lyda’s obituary or to send condolences to the family, please visit https://www.memorialchapel.net.
The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Hancock Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.
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