Vivian Claire (LaCombe) Rousseau

Vivian “Fifi” Rousseau completed her circle of life on Friday morning, January 31, 2020 at the age of 95 at Harbour View Assisted Living in Munising.  Vivian “Fifi” was born in Munising, Michigan on July 29, 1924, the youngest of 12 children. She graduated from Mather High School in 1942. She was a lifelong resident with the exception of the few years during WWII when she joined her husband in Detroit and Sault Ste. Marie. She married Bill Rousseau on August 27, 1942 and they were married for 52 years until his death on June 24, 1995.

Fifi had a long working career with the Alger County Chamber of Commerce; Department of Human Services and the Alger County Probate Court where she worked for 25 years as the Register of Probate until retirement in 1986. She was committed to her work as Register of Probate impacting many people in the community by her compassion and understanding.

Fifi was a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Church where she was actively involved with the Lady Forester Circle, Funeral Ministry, Eucharistic Ministry and bible study. Fifi had many interests and passions during her life: she loved sports and was a “dyed in the wool” Green Bay Packer and Detroit Piston fan. She was a good athlete and enjoyed activities such as tennis, bike riding, golf and cross country skiing. Fifi loved listening to music, dancing and playing the piano. We enjoyed singing along as she played the piano after dinner, while growing up on Superior Street.  We all learned to dance from our parents, who were excellent dancers during an era when people enjoyed dancing together. She also enjoyed reading and playing cards. Fifi was a fierce and loyal member of the Democratic Party all her life; she would talk politics with anyone she could engage. One of the trips she enjoyed after retirement was visiting Washington D.C. where she could see the sites of the working government in action. She also traveled to many other wonderful places in the U.S. and Europe. Upon retirement Fifi developed an interest in painting and discovered a latent talent. She created many beautiful oil paintings during a period of 15 years. Many people including her children, grandchildren and friends were gifted with one of her paintings.

Everyone who knew or met Fifi for the first time appreciated her genuine warmth and wonderful sense of humor. She had a mischievous nature and you might say she was a “character” who enjoyed “acting up” and having fun. She was very friendly and always had a kind word for others preferring to say something positive.

She was a loving supportive mother and grandmother who is survived by seven children: William (Judith) Rousseau of Munising, René (James) Wilson of Yale, MI, Patrick Rousseau of Munising, Marian “Mimsi” (Ty) Sigler of Corpus Christi, TX, Jayne (Al) Hauptman of Marquette, MI, Stephen (Nicki) Rousseau of Fort Bragg, CA and Richard (Christi) Rousseau of Valley View TX. She is also survived by twenty grandchildren, twenty-four great-grand-children and five great-great grand-children. She was the youngest of twelve children of Henrietta and John LaCombe. She was predeceased by five sisters, six brothers, parents, husband Bill “Hound” Rousseau, granddaughter Stephanie Rousseau-Whitebird, granddaughter-in-law Doreen "Dodie" Rousseau and great-grandson Tysen Benz. Vivian is also survived by many nieces and nephews who were attentive to her during her life, always referring to her as “Aunt Fifi.”

The family of Vivian Rousseau is grateful to all the people who assisted in her care while she was a resident of Brookridge Assisted Living in Marquette and Harbour View Assisted Living in Munising. All of the people who cared for our mother helped to improve the quality of her life.

The family of Vivian Rousseau is also grateful for having received foundational love from our mother.  So it is fitting her last words were “I love you.”

Services for Vivian Claire Rousseau will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Munising with Father Michael Ocran celebrating her Memorial Mass. The Diocese of Marquette requires that masks and family unit social distance rules are to be followed.  Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising following Mass.