Lois Verstraete

TRAVERSE CITY — Lois P. Verstraete, 81, of Traverse City, passed away on April 7, 2012. Lois was born in Detroit in 1930 and was adopted by Charles and Marguerite (Mathes) Lynch. Lois attended Gesu Catholic School, Immaculata High School and graduated Marygrove College in Detroit with a degree in psychology and sociology in 1952. Upon graduation, she was hired by Detroit Edison in the field of industrial psychology. She married Joseph L. Verstraete in 1958. Together they raised two daughters, moving from Detroit to West Bloomfield Township in 1968.Lois was a longtime member of Gesu Catholic school and parish in Detroit and later Prince of Peace Catholic parish in West Bloomfield. Following Joseph's retirement from General Dynamics/Chrysler in 1989, they moved to Traverse City, where they became active members of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Lois worked for several years at "The Added Touch" and was co-owner of this business, following her passion for arts and crafts. Lois loved cross stitch, flower arranging, theater and crossword puzzles. But more than anything, Lois loved her husband and children.Lois was preceded in death in by her husband, Joseph in April 2000. She is survived by her two daughters, Kathleen Verstraete, of Traverse City, and Mary C. Verstraete, of Akron, Ohio.Visitation for Lois will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 12, 2012, at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. The rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 13, 2012, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Traverse City. Msgr. Edwin Thome will celebrate the Mass, assisted by Deacon Jim Kroupka. Burial will follow at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Lois' name be directed to the Grand Traverse Pavilions Foundation of Traverse City (www.gtpavilions.com); The Old Town Playhouse (www.oldtownplayhouse.com); or the charity of your choice.Please share memories and thoughts of Lois with her family by way of her online guestbook found at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com. The family is being served by The Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Traverse City.