Kristine Elizabeth (LaFave) Fromm

Kristine Elizabeth Fromm (LaFave), age 76, of Rochester, Michigan and formerly of Munising, Michigan died peacefully at home on Friday October 13th, 2023 following a long illness. Kristine was born to Ernest and Katherine LaFave, on December 21st, 1946 in Munising, where she later graduated from Sacred Heart School and Wm. G. Mather High School. Happily married for 57 years, Kristine was introduced to Howard “Vince” Fromm II at an early age, and they were wed on September 3rd 1966 in Sacred Heart Church, Munising.

Kristine’s lifelong passion for all things creative began from an early age. Starting with her love for sewing and crocheting, Kristine’s skill allowed her to create unique clothes for her dolls as well as beautiful blankets for close friends and family. From here she developed into a very talented seamstress which allowed her to use her expertise in many aspects of her life especially as a mother and later as a grandmother. Kristine was able to make stunning outfits to her own design, costumes for school plays and Halloween, as well as bespoke curtains and cushions for the family’s beloved sailboat Sea Spirit.

Kristine’s talent, however, was not limited to just fashion, as she had a good eye for decorating, especially for celebrations and holidays. Christmas was her favorite time of the year and due to the number of family birthdays in December, it allowed her a perfect excuse to heavily decorate both the interior and exterior of the house. Every year, her home was adorned with countless poinsettias, traditional nativity scenes, and lovingly decorated Christmas trees finished with the most elaborately wrapped gifts placed underneath. Her attention to detail was second to none, which, when visiting the family home during the holidays, only took one a few moments to realize. However, she took her imagination past her own front door and annually would take the position as the Seasonal Display Designer for first Universal Mall in Warren, followed by Laurel Park Place in Livonia.

The attention to detail didn’t stop at keeping an immaculate home and decorating, as Kristine was also able to manage her Shaklee business, which she ran with Vince successfully for over forty years.

Most weekends throughout the warmer seasons Kris and Vince spent days sailing their boat Sea Spirit, something they enjoyed over a span of thirty years. These excursions, which took them throughout the Great Lakes of Michigan and beyond, often concluded at the restaurant in the Detroit Yacht Club where they were able to meet with friends and family to make the most of the long summer evenings. It was perhaps this hobby that fueled her love of different cultures and interest in travel. This common interest was something Kristine shared with her husband, resulting in a home filled with unique objects from all corners of the globe. Out of all destinations visited, Vince and Kris especially enjoyed unique experiences in Alaska, Egypt, China, the Baltic Sea, as well as extensive voyages around the Caribbean Islands. Kristine’s last overseas trip was to travel to England to celebrate the marriage of her eldest granddaughter, a memorable occasion she cherished.

To Kristine, raising her family was the greatest achievement and something that gave her an enormous sense of pride. Loved ones could feel this firsthand through her enthusiastic greetings and heartwarming hugs and embraces. When it came to family member’s birthdays, she made sure to make the moment special with a full rendition of Happy Birthday, complemented by homemade cake and a card with a meaningful message. We know that she sensed immense satisfaction in the final moments of her life when she was able to meet newborn Dillon, her first great grandchild.

Kristine is survived by her husband- Vince Fromm of Rochester; children- Howard (Carrie) Fromm of Royal Oak, MI, Kathryn Fromm of Nashville, TN; three granddaughters- Chelsea (Rupert) Allan of London, England, Stephanie (Jordan) Littleson of Oxford, MI, and Lily Fromm of Royal Oak, MI; and a great-grandson Dillon Littleson of Oxford, MI; brother- Ernest LaFave of Venice, FL; sisters- Colleen (Jim) Butsic of Iron River, MI, and Marilyn LaFave of Englewood, FL; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest “Shorty” LaFave and Katherine “Katie” LaFave.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated by Father Michael Ocran on Friday, October 20, 2023 at Sacred Heart Church in Munising at 12:00 p.m.   Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery following Mass and then a luncheon and time of visiting with family members will be held in the lower level of the church.