D. Lorraine (Adair) Vertz

D. Lorraine Vertz, age 83, of Munising, died early Thursday morning, March 19, 2020 at Medilodge of Munising where she had been surrounded by her family.  She was born on February 2, 1937 in Munising to Donald and Hilma (Lahtinen) Adair.  Lorraine graduated from Wm. G. Mather High School in 1955 and then went to beauty school in Monroe, Michigan.  She married Edward Vertz in 1956 and together they raised their four children.  After the kids started school, Lorraine went to work for Munising Memorial Hospital and Drs. Hildebrand, Fahrbach and Olson for over forty years.  She was the friendly face at the front desk or friendly voice on the phone while working as their receptionist, secretary, and insurance processor.  Lorraine was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Church and volunteered often during funeral luncheons.  She always kept her house clean and washed walls with a passion. She enjoyed baking & cooking and always had homemade chocolate chip cookies for the grandkids and pasties in the freezer for company. She also enjoyed walking, taking trips to the casino, and supporting her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in their events.  Lorraine was a loving wife to Ed for over fifty-five years and later as his caregiver until he preceded her in death in 2012.

Lorraine is survived by her children – Cindy Ryan of Munising; Dean (Carla) Vertz of Three Rivers, MI, Dennis (Kay) Vertz of Munising, and Joan (George) Brisson of Munising; grandchildren – Robert, Marenzie, Michael, Blair, Jamie, Daniel, Lindsey, Travis, Rachel, Erica, Danielle, Karen, Kathy and Billy; twenty-great grandchildren; brother – Darrell Adair of Marquette; sisters – Dorothy Masters of Melstrand, Karen (Mel) Beauchaine of Wetmore, Judy (Mike) Migazzi of Iron Mountain; brother-in-law – Bob Durocher of Monroe, MI; and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ed, son-in-law Rick Ryan, sister Betty Durocher, and brothers Dennis, Ed, Ronnie, and Sheldon Adair.

I had two Mothers – two Mothers I claim
Two different people, yet with the same name.
Two separate women, diverse by design,
But I loved them both because they were both mine.
The first was the Mother who carried me here,
Gave birth and nurtured and launched my career.
She was the one whose features I bear,
Complete with the facial expressions I wear.
She gave me some music, which follows me yet,
Along with the examples in life that she set.
Then as I grew older, she somehow younger grew,
And we’d laugh as just Mothers and daughters can do.
But then came the year that her mind clouded so,
And I sensed that the Mother I’d known would soon go.
So quickly she changed and turned into the other,
A stranger who dressed in the clothes of my Mother.
Oh, she looked the same, at least at arm’s length,
But now she was the child and I was her strength.
We’d come full circle, we women three,
My Mother the first, the second and me.
When a new Mother comes and the old goes away,
I’d ask of them nothing that I didn’t do.
Love both of your Mothers as both have loved you.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated by Father Michael Ocran on Thursday, July 23, 2020 at 1:00 p.m.   Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising following her mass.  The Diocese of Marquette requires that mask and family unit social distance rules are to be followed.