Elizabeth W. Venturato

Grand Marais Elizabeth "Liz" W. Venturato, age 67, of Lowder Road, Grand Marais, died in the Emergency Room of Marquette General Hospital on Wednesday, March 8, 2012 following a brief illness. She was born on July 31, 1944 in Curtis, Michigan to the late Floyd and Elizabeth (Selby) Gage. Raised on a small family farm, Liz attended school in Curtis and Engadine. She helped raise her younger siblings after the death of her mother, and she worked as a nanny and housekeeper for a family in St. Ignace. Liz married Joseph D. Venturato on November 26, 1966. She was a wonderful homemaker and they together raised their children. Liz was a member of Holy Rosary Church, the Holy Rosary choir, and the Grand Marais Women's Club. Liz worked as an E.M.T. for Burt Township for many years. She had her C.D.L. and she and Joe drove their 18 wheeler across the country. She also worked side by side with him in their family owned sawmill and together as they built their retirement home. Liz was a wonderful cook and she cooked for the school, The Sportsman, and their family restaurant "Liz' Place." She was a talented seamstress and did darning and sewing for many in the community. Liz would make gloves and rugs out of old wool coats. She also baked and decorated cakes for many. In recent years, people would show up at the Farmer's Market early so they could purchase some of her goods. Liz had a green thumb, loved picking berries, hunting for agates, and she enjoyed lighthouses, bird watching, and videotaping the wildlife in her backyard. Liz was a caring woman who would do anything for anyone and always put others before herself. She is survived by her husband of over forty-five years - Joe; their son - Dominic "Joe" Venturato, Jr. of Grand Marais; grandchildren - Barbara and Edgar; siblings - Alfred (Betty) Gage of Curtis, Emma (Larry) Myner of Plainwell, MI, Ray (Mary) Gage of Blaney Park, MI, Ethel (Bill) Gallagher of Inverness, FL, and Arthur Gage of St. Charles, IL; mother-in-law - Edna Jean Johnson of Grand Marais; sisters-in-law - Marlene Gage of Newberry and Diane Gage of Manistique; and numerous nieces and nephews. Liz was preceded in death by her parents, three children - Richard Venturato on June 26, 1968, Elizabeth "Lisa" Venturato on October 7, 1968, and Dorothy Venturato Dutcher on March 26, 1994, and brothers Jim and Wes Gage. Services will be held on Thursday, March 15, 2012 at the Holy Rosary Church in Grand Marais. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Father Tim Hruska will celebrate her funeral mass at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Liz' memory are requested to the Grand Marais Women's Club Benevolent Fund to help local families in need.Liz's grave side service will be on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at the Holy Rosary Cemetery in Grand Marais at 12:15 p.m.