Mary Madeline LaRoy

Mary Madeline LaRoy, 88, of Riga, Michigan passed away peacefully March10, 2026 surrounded by her loving family. Born on August 28, 1937 in Monroe, Michigan to Belgian immigrants Firmin and Irma VanDevelde, she graduated from St. Mary Academy in 1955. As a young girl, Mary helped her family hand milk cows, bottle and deliver milk in Monroe by horse-drawn wagons. On June 2, 1956 she married the love of her life, Gustave LaRoy at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Monroe, with whom she spent nearly 64 years until he passed February 18, 2020.

Mary lived a full and blessed life as a homemaker, dedicated to her faith, family and good friends. As a young married couple, Mary helped her husband farm in Addison, Michigan, while starting their family of seven children. In 1969 they moved to Riga where Gus found full-time factory work and they became faithful members of St. Anthony Church in Temperance. Mary became involved  in many church activities, festivals, mother-daughter breakfasts and rummage sales. She would go on to become a Eucharistic Minister and active in the Monroe County Chapter of Right To Life. Faith was very important to Mary and she found great comfort in saying her daily rosary.

Parties, social events and family gatherings were Mary’s greatest joy. She enjoyed her Church Ladies Club, bowling leagues, playing cards, polka dances and gatherings with family and friends. Mary and Gus vacationed in Florida many winters, traveled to Alaska, Minnesota and throughout the U.S., making a special trip to Belgium and Lourdes, France.

Home and garden were especially important to Mary where she created a loving, cozy environment for her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, always cooking and baking, especially her famous crescent rolls, Belgian Lukken, cookies, oatmeal cake, raisin bread and cinnamon rolls. Her love of flowers was evident each summer where her yard and patio were a profusion of color and her yard was always neatly mowed.

Mary is survived by her children, Angela (Eduardo) Christensen-Rodriguez, Terese (Daniel) Gust, Laura (Darrell) Rush, Paul (Kelly) LaRoy, Steven (Debra) LaRoy and Kathryn (Jay Leichty) Blochowski; daughter-in-law, Paula LaRoy; 22 grandchildren, Eric (Lindsey Christ) Christensen, Amanda (James) Christensen-Brown, Nathan (Megan) Gust, Joseph (Katy) Gust, Jacob (Jessica) Gust, David (Allison) Gust, Gustave (Jenifer) LaRoy, Isaac (Brooke) LaRoy, Madison (John Devos) LaRoy, Mitchell LaRoy, Jonathan (Kylie) Rush, Natalie Westhoven, Emily (Greg) Peper, Kelsey (Eric) Knopp, Ashley (Keaton) Hatch, Garrett (Paxton) LaRoy, Lukas (LeeAnn) LaRoy, Abby (Austin) Flack, Gabriel (Bailey) LaRoy, Zachary (Jessica) LaRoy, Grace Blochowski and Joseph Blochowski; five step grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren with one more on the way; one step great-grandchild; sisters-in-law, Betty Ann LaRoy and Patricia LaRoy, and brother-in-law John Schmidt.

She was preceded in death by her parents, loving husband, brother, Andrew VanDevelde, sisters-in-law, Shirley VanDevelde and Shirley Schmidt, brother-in-law Robert LaRoy, son, Gustave LaRoy, Jr, son-in-law, Mark Christensen and grandson, Nicholas Christensen.

Visitation will be held at Reeb Funeral Home, 5712 N. Main Street, Sylvania, Ohio on Sunday, March 15 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with Recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, March 16 at 10:00 a.m. at Light of Christ Catholic Church, 309 S. Lane Street, Blissfield, Michigan. Mary will be laid to rest at St. Joseph Cemetery, Inc., Monroe, Michigan.

The family would like to extend our sincere gratitude for the patient and loving care given to Mary by the aides and staff at Blissfield Place (Bridgeway Park) and by Brigette of Optimal Care Hospice. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to The Monroe Chapter Right To Life.

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