Evelyn "Laura" Stolarz's Obituary
Evelyn Laura Stolarz, age 90, passed away Monday, May 31 in Grand Haven. She was born on July 21, 1930 to Evelyn Samdal Butcher and was a lifelong resident of Grand Haven. She met Stanley Stolarz in elementary school, and together they married on Nov. 7, 1953 and had six children. She was a proud graduate of the University of Michigan’s School of Nursing. She spent the first part of her long career as an obstetrics nurse, at North Ottawa Community Hospital in Grand Haven, then later instructing nursing students at St. Mary’s School of Nursing in Grand Rapids. During their short time in Toledo, OH, she worked as an Administrator at Riverside Hospital in Toledo. Laura retired from Mercy St. Mary’s in Grand Rapids. She joked fondly about the many times she “caught” babies before the doctors arrived to deliver them. She was a lifelong parishioner of St. Anthony of Padua Church and a recent parishioner of St. Luke’s University Parish. Laura was a lover of life and appreciated spending time with her family, camping, snowmobiling, traveling, sewing, knitting, and quilting. She served as a 4H leader and den mother for Boy Scouts and was a multiple-decades season ticket holder for U-M football games. She shared her zest for life with her children and grandchildren, taking them on annual road trips to Cedar Point and Sea World in her Honeybee motorhome. For decades, she got up at 3 A.M to drive her motorhome into downtown Grand Haven to ensure the ever-growing family had the perfect spot to watch the Coast Guard parade and fireworks. Laura is preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Alfred Samdal and Stan Samdal Sr. Survivors include her loving husband of 67 years, Stan; children, Ron (Cheri Crum) Stolarz, Jan (Brian) Bonka, Gayle (Frank) Johnson, Don (Cecilia) Stolarz, Nina (Greg) Riddle, and Sherri (Don) Owsiak; 10 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; sister, Colleen (Matt) Mulcahy and brother, George (Shirley) Butcher. She was very close with her many nieces and nephews, especially “the golden child” Valerie Meinecke, a fellow nurse and U-M tailgater. A Funeral Service will be held at 1PM on Friday, June 4, following a noon visitation at St. Luke’s University Parish (10144 42nd Ave., Georgetown Twp, 49428). In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be delivered to Hospice of North Ottawa Community, Inc. or charity of your choice. Arrangements by The VanZantwick Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 620 Washington Ave., Grand Haven, MI 49417. Please feel free to sign the family’s online guestbook at www.stysemafh.com.
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