Harriet LaPlante

TRAVERSE CITY — Harriet Evelyn LaPlante, 89, of Traverse City and formerly of Detroit, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010, at Grand Traverse Pavilions. Harriet was born on Aug. 15, 1921, to the late Hector and Blanche (Winn) Curl in Detroit. Harriet entered into marriage with Gordyn T. LaPlante on Sept. 23, 1940, also in Detroit. Harriet's role as a loving mother and matriarch quickly grew along with her family and the addition of 14 children. In 1961 she was even voted Mother of the Year in Warren. After Gordyn retired from the auto industry and Harriet retired from Warren Consolidated School District, they decided to head north. In 1982 the two moved to Traverse City. They settled in to Holiday Park Campgrounds and for many years helped with the parks development. Harriet was a member of St. Francis Catholic Church and took many opportunities to volunteer where she could. In her younger years Harriet even played semi-pro baseball, but she was most proud of her accomplished family and will be missed by all who knew her. Harriet is survived by her six sons, Jeffrey LaPlante, Daryl LaPlante, Christopher LaPlante, Mark (Ramona) LaPlante, Brian LaPlante and Stephen LaPlante; seven daughters, Carol (Jon) Nissen, Patricia (Darrell) Walters, Cyn Walleman, Kim (Henry) White, Michelle LaPlante, Denise (Jim) Giles and Therese (Larry) Saganski; her brother-in-law, Michael (Karen) McCloskey; daughter-in-law, Dorothy LaPlante; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; as well as many other loving family members and friends. Harriet was preceded in death by her husband, Gordyn; son, Michael LaPlante; her parents; and brother, Jerome L. Curl. A memorial Mass will take place at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 13, 2010, at St. Francis Catholic Church, with the Rev. Kenneth Stachnik officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Graveside committal services will be held in Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 10 a.m. (Note: Due to inclement weather, the memorial Mass has been resceduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14, with visitation at 10:30 a.m. at the church. A luncheon will follow. Graveside committal services will follow at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.) Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be directed to the Grand Traverse Pavilions, Elm Unit; or Hospice of Michigan for all of the tremendous care and comfort the staff provided Harriet and her family. Please share thoughts with Harriet's family at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com. The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Harriet LaPlante

December 7, 2010