Loretta Ann (Castrovinci) Louis

Loretta Ann Louis, age 90, of Munising, died following a brief illness on Thursday morning, January 18, 2018 at Munising Memorial Hospital.  Her story began on February 19, 1927 when a Sicilian family named Carmello and Concetta (Conti) Castrovinci who were living in Jersey City, New Jersey welcomed the birth of Loretta Ann Castrovinci. Loretta’s long and fruitful life brought truth to Abraham Lincoln’s statement “In the end it is not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years’’. When Loretta would recount her earlier years with her four other siblings it was always with a smile at fond memories of making homemade pasta, polenta, Italian sausages, and buns. When Loretta was not sewing leather bomber jackets during WWII at a local factory, she and her sisters would go to the Oceanside Boardwalk, Radio City Music Hall, Broadway plays, and the skating rink. On one very special day at the rink Loretta’s life changed forever when she met, Tony Louis Jr. from Munising Michigan, who was on shore leave from the Navy during World War II.  Tony offered to tighten her skates and soon he became Loretta’s best friend, the love of her life, and future husband.

Loretta and Tony moved to Munising and before they started their family, Loretta worked at the Munising Wooden Ware. In addition to being a very talented painting and drawing artist, she was a very much sought after seamstress. Very active in the Sacred Heart Catholic School, Loretta and Tony helped design and build scenery sets for children’s plays.  She had a strong and beautiful Catholic faith and involved with the “Prayer Line” and Right to Life.

Being a mother and grandmother were the most important parts of her life. This was where she drew her strength from and left her greatest legacy. Open with her love and affection, forgiving and kind to all, Loretta taught much by her example. Loretta took much pleasure from the simple yet best miracles in life, such as a grandchild’s laughter, a sunny day, the birds singing at her feeder, flowers blooming in her garden, feeding the neighbor’s dog every day when he came over and sat at the door, or the surprise on everyone’s faces when they opened Christmas presents she so elegantly and lovingly wrapped.

Christmas and other holidays were a very special time for Loretta when the entire family gathered at her house to celebrate love and life. Loretta’s holiday meals were legendary both as to scope and the happiness and love exchanged.

“Our lives were enriched through her gentle and loving way. While we grieve for our loss, we take comfort and smile remembering her “many years of life well lived” and knowing she has embarked on the greatest of all journeys. From all of us to Loretta,” Amore, and Arrivederci.”

Loretta is survived by her children – Anton (Sandra) Louis III of Gladstone, Carmen (Julie) Louis of Custer, WI, Gina (Tom) Louis-Mercier of Rapid River, Theresa (Howard) Karr of Munising and Angela (Joseph) Karbowski of Traverse City; fifteen grandchildren – Carla, Laura, Lisa, John, Misty, Matthew, Victoria, Maria, LeAnna, Jessica, Jennifer, Dorothy, Forrest, Mitchell and Reece; twenty-six great grandchildren; one great-great grandchildren with two more on the way; and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Anton, daughter Donna Louis Davis, grandson Donald Hase, and sisters Mary, Josie, Sandy, and Camille.

Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home in Munising on Wednesday, January 24th from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m.   A Parish Vigil Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. where there will be a time for sharing memories and telling stories.  Loretta’s Mass of Christian Burial will be concelebrated by Father Frank Lenz and Father Chris Gardiner on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Munising.  Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising in the spring.