Our greatest Warrior, our dearest Mother, my dearest wife and our dearest friend finally put down her sword today. It was a 16 year battle that she never wavered nor shied away from. She taught so many of us how to truly live life and now she has taught us how to die as well. She lived her life with such grace and class and always said and believed "It is not how we die that matters, because we all will. What matters is how we LIVE", and boy, did she live.
Cindy was born in Clawson Mi. to parents Glen and Joan Laferle. She was the youngest of her siblings Mike and Pam. She attended Northwood Institute in Midland Mi where she learned the art of Fashion. Fashion is a small word for describing Cindy but she personified it like no other with grace and dignity, much like her life. I met Cindy on the first weekend of her freshman year at our fraternity toga party. She even wore a sheet with more class than Aphrodite. When she walked in I turned to my friend and said, "Rev, someday I'm gonna marry that girl!" 38 years later we say our final goodbyes. Cindy went on to manage an Ann Taylor Store in Philadelphia and eventually headed up the Gucci store there. When we were told that we probably wouldn't be able to have kids she proved them wrong once again and gave birth to beautiful twins. It was the birth of Ryder and Jordan that led us back to Northern Mi. to be closer to our families and loved ones. Soon after our beautiful Jacob joined our family and we were complete. From then on Cindy focused on being a mother, and what a mother she was and will continue to be. So many lessons, so many lessons. The kids all grew up and Cindy decided to open her own store, LuLu's in Glen Arbor. She never lost the touch and loved being able to share her love of fashion and hugs with all who entered her doors.
Cindy had a very deep spiritual side to herself that was her anchor. She leaned on this faith time and time again to overcome so many of her struggles. Her strong beliefs were the shield she carried into battle every single day. Cindy touched so many lives and her legacy of love and giving will live on in so many ways and in so many people's hearts. Whether it was volunteering at school, cooking meals for the soccer teams, organizing the 9th grade camps every year or her love of the Mighty Fine Arts group. She just loved to give.
Cindy always talked about writing a book someday. She never quite got that far but she always knew what the title would be, "But You Look So Good". We laughed about this all the time. No matter what she was going through she always remained beautiful. I bow to the Divine in you LuLu! We all do.
Cindy was preceded in death by her father Glen and step father George Stewart. Father and Mother in Law Cy & Ronnie Lewis. Survivors include her husband Jon, children Jordan, Ryder and Jacob. Her mother Joan, sister Pam and husband Ted, and brother Mike and wife Patty. Nieces - Nicole and husband Jeremy, Christine, Brennan, Avery,Rhyan, Abby and husband Jeff and Meggan and husband Ralph. Nephews, Trever, Shawn, Teddy, Joey, Wyatt, Emmett and Roman. Sister and brother in law Betsy & Jim Hesser.
Services for Cindy will be Saturday May 16th at Glen Lake Community Schools at 4:00 pm. Afterward the family will be having a celebration of her life at our home. Please come if you like. She would like that. You know she always loved a good party!
Cindy's favorite cause was the 9th Grade Camp held every year for incoming freshman at Glen Lake. This is where she believed she could make the biggest difference in young kid's lives. To honor Cindy, and to help support the annual 9th grade camp, the family is establishing a memorial fund in Cindy's name. Please honor Cindy by helping to make this legacy live on. Make checks payable to Glen Lake Community schools.