Escanaba Daily Press, July 9, 2009
Rita Aline LaBumbard, 86-year-old resident of Harbor Towers in Escanaba, former resident of Rapid River, died July 7, 2009, at St. Francis Hospital following a brief illness. Rita was born in St. Jacques, on March 8, 1923, one of 14 children of Omer and Florestine Groleau. She married the love of her life, Pete LaBumbard, March 2, 1946, in Nahma.
Rita was a master quilter and seamstress, loved gardening, fishing and spending time at the family cottage at Round Lake. In her early years, Rita spent many winters with her daughters in Lincoln, Neb. and Salt Lake City, Utah. She is a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church and the Walter C. Cole Post 301 American Legion Auxiliary. She dearly loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by parents, husband Harry “Pete”; son, Joseph; grandson, Bret, brothers; Rudolph, Edward, Emil, Rosario, Leo and Gary; sisters, Leila Moser, Irene Clement, and Loretta Pomeroy.
Rita LaBumbard leaves to survive: sons, Lon (Billie) LaBumbard of Spooner, Wis., and Kevin (Lauri) LaBumbard of Skandia; daughters, Lynn (Mark) Kelly of Salt Lake City, Utah, Kay Neumann of Omaha, Neb.; granddaughters, Lea (Josh) Buckridge and Chelsea Neumann; grandsons, Clint and Chase Neumann; special great-grandsons, Micah, Dominic, Trystan and Jameson; brothers, Robert Wade (Marlene) Groleau and Gerald Groleau; and sisters, Anita (Edward) Lamberg and Rosalyn Plas; sisters-in-law, June (Don) Martin, Dolly (John) Karl, Stephanie LaBumbard, Meryle Groleau and Sandy Groleau and numerous nieces and nephews, including a special niece, Darlene Sauve.
Rita’s family wishes to thank Personal Care Services, especially Mary Creten, LPN, for making it possible for her to live independently with dignity these last three years, her primary care physician, Dr. Kymber Gauthier, and all of the nurses and staff at St. Francis Hospital for their tremendous care and consideration in the final days of her life.
The family of Rita Aline LaBumbard will receive friends on Friday at the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone from 4. to 7p.m. Parish Prayers will be recited at 7 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10 a.m. at St. Charles Church in Rapid River with Rev. Fr. Jacek Wytcko officiating. Deacon Rod Groleau will also assist in services. Luncheon will follow Mass in the Church Parish Hall. Burial will be in the Rapid River Cemetery. The Skradski-Boyce Funeral Homes of Delta County are assisting the LaBumbard family and please visit their website to read or to write messages of condolence to the family or to leave a favorite memory regarding Rita for family and friends to appreciate.