Nancy Jean LaFond

     Nancy Jean LaFond, age 88, of Munising and formerly of Toledo, Ohio, died surrounded by loved ones on Wednesday morning, February 21, 2024 at UPHS Marquette.   She was born in Toledo, Ohio on May 11, 1935, the only child of Steve and Lucy (Wodarski) Roman.  Nancy grew up in the Historic Old Polish Village area of Toledo.  She graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1953. Nancy married Harold LaFond in November of 1963.  They bought a house on Orchard Hills Blvd. and raised their children there.  The family were members of Little Flower Catholic Church in Toledo. Nancy was a stay-at-home mom before being employed by St. John’s Jesuit High School as a secretary.  Nancy and her friends loved playing bingo and would travel to various area parishes around the Toledo area. The family based their lives around their Catholic faith and church functions. Church festivals and holidays were celebrated with Polish traditions.  Summers of the 1970’s were spent at Zukey Lake with family friends and Father Jack. Nancy had a lot of pride in her coupon clipping skills and was always willing to share her shopping secrets with her family and friends. Harold preceded her in death in 2009, and Nancy continued to live in their Orchard Hills home. She lived there for a total of fifty-eight years with the help of many neighbors and friends. They allowed her to maintain her independence at home through their kindness and generosity of time and talents.  They include Marty and Julie McManus, Kathy Pawlecki, the Paszek girls – Connie, Cathy, and Carolyn, and Anna Moss.  They helped with household chores, taking her on trips to the casino, keeping her company, transporting her to doctor visits, and bringing her flowers.   In October of 2023, Nancy moved to the Upper Peninsula to live with her daughter and grandchildren.  Last year, she had the best Christmas surrounded by her daughter, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. It was like the good old days when she would come for every holiday before Harold got sick. During the last five months, Nancy’s special caregiver was her grandson, Nick Sontag.  They shared meals, laughs, and fierce love of the Golden State Warriors together.  Nancy’s legacy of  fairness has been instilled as a value in the lives that she touched. 

She will be missed by her daughter – Dawn Mattson of Munising; son – Harold David LaFond, Jr. of Cincinnati, OH; grandchildren – Kristen (David) Long of Munising, Morgan (Levi) Williams of Kentwood, MI, Nicholas Sontag, Lori Mattson, Jacob Mattson, Kate Mattson, and Trey Mattson all of Munising; great-grandchildren – Camden, Casen, Cohen, Colton, and Cullen Long, and Roman and Vincent Williams; and also missed by Lori’s dog, Brooke, who slept and snored with Nancy every night.

Private family services will be held in the spring. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising.

Memorials in Nancy’s memory are requested to be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.