Jeanne Marie Piché

Jeanne Marie Piché, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away on November 8, leaving behind a family who will forever cherish her love, her traditions, and the memories of a lifetime spent together.

Jeanne was born in Chicago to Jeremiah and Regina (Hogan) Moynihan. Proud of her Irish heritage, Jeanne especially enjoyed celebrating St. Patrick's Day. Her Irish roots were more than just a family connection, they were something she embraced and celebrated. One particularly memorable year, Jeanne was honored as the Irish Queen of the local St. Patrick's Day Parade. She cherished the camaraderie and friendships of the local group of women who shared that Irish connection and the traditions that brought them together.

Jeanne married her lifelong love, Donald Patrick Piché. Together, they moved from the Detroit area to Traverse City, where they built a life, a dental practice and a family.

Professionally, Jeanne worked alongside Don in their dental practice, bringing her own gifts and talents to the people they served. Eventually, however, the demands of her growing family began to outweigh those of the practice, and Jeanne traded her professional role for what may have been an even more demanding position: ringmaster of a five-child circus! Raising five children was no small undertaking, and with a household of seven, simplicity was often the guiding principle.

Jeanne, or Noonie as she became known to her grandchildren, was a strong yet kind mother. She loved her children dearly and was their biggest fan, taking great pride in their individual lives, accomplishments and pursuits.

Family was at the center of Jeanne's world. She especially loved holidays, with Christmas holding a particularly special place in her heart. She was the ringleader of family gatherings, making sure traditions continued and people came together.

There was her famous Christmas coffee cake. It was a family favorite and something everyone looked forward to each year. The recipe has been passed along, but even with the exact same ingredients and instructions, nobody has ever quite managed to make it the way Noonie did. Some things, it seems, simply cannot be duplicated.

Jeanne found her greatest joy in the people she loved, especially as her family grew to include grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Whether gathered around a holiday table, enjoying a summer afternoon or simply spending time together, she delighted in following their adventures, celebrating their accomplishments and making everyone feel welcome. She leaves behind a family rich in memories, traditions, laughter and love, a reflection of the life she built and the people she brought together. And somewhere, we suspect, she will always be keeping an eye on all of us. We just hope we're making her proud.

Jeanne was preceded in death by her beloved husband of more than 61 years, Donald Patrick Piché.

Jeanne is survived by her five children, Don (Julie Brons) Piché, Cara (Michael) Colburn, Peter (Mary Jo) Piché, Molly (Kerry) Russell and Joseph (Lea) Piché.

She was Noonie to her beloved grandchildren: Keenan (Emily), Nikolaj, Jonas, Sebastian, Jamie (Andy), Patrick, Benjamin (Debriana), Mikaela (Matthew) Denton, Maria (Ben) Ptak, Christina, Marcus, Jonathan, Maisy, Daniel, Fischer, Finnegan, Gilman and Annette. She was also Great Noonie to Mia, Ira, Noe, Samara, Eleanor, Louis, Adeline and Thea.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church-Old Mission will host a visitation at 1 p.m. and Mass at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 21.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Little Sisters of the Poor.