Joyce M. Laplante

Joyce Marie LaPlante, 91 years young, passed away peacefully November 5, 2020. Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, her family journeyed to Detroit during the 1940’s and she later made her home in the suburbs located in the downriver area. She worked throughout her life starting from high-school age. Working in customer service and retail sales, she often challenged and won over the gender bias in certain sales positions with her sharp-witted comments. She had a strong work ethic that she passed on to her children. She loved attending church and with a sense of community spirit, she logged in many volunteer hours through Faith United Methodist Church assisting with their charitable dinners, rummage sales, and related activities. Friends could count on her for rides to church and appointments. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and was awarded a certificate citing her outstanding contribution. She served as the Sergeant of Arms for her post. Her service spanned a period of 40 years in support of the veterans, the military and their families through a variety of programs. She had many interests over the years including golf, bowling, attending the community playhouse, and gardening. She loved a good game of scrabble—thanks to the cousins for the last game. She was often the champ creating words from a rack with “only vowels”. Of course, she only played the family version handed down from her mother (looking up words in the scrabble dictionary during the game and/or your turn) with the goal being the best total score and learning something new. She enjoyed traveling with her sisters and visiting her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren across the country. She shopped like a pro whether for the family or veterans Christmas gifts with lessons in “matching” and shoe-buying as suggested by her closets. She could raise one eyebrow in thought or getting to the truth of the matter and always had a clever comeback. She never threw anything away which is evidenced by the fact that the basement is full of memories to sort through. Joyce loved and adored her family. She is survived by her sister, Patricia, and by her four children Yvonne, Donald, Janet, and Tim. Joyce is also survived by her six grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and her beloved nieces and nephews. In keeping with her wishes, there will be no wake or memorial service. The Martenson Funeral Home in Trenton, Michigan is arranging cremation and burial of her ashes next to her late husband of 40 years, Don LaPlante, at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Cemetery. A private family celebration of life will be organized to share memories over “Coffee and A Little Something Sweet” as she liked to do each morning. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Joyce’s memory to the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post in Riverview, MI and Disabled American Veterans. Please make checks payable to ALA Unit 389 and mail to: ALA Unit 389 17116 Quarry Rd. Riverview, MI 48193 Disabled American Veterans Please donate at https://www.dav.org