Mary Madiline (Thooft) Lanoue was born on November 12, 1934, the daughter of Ernest and Mary (Dobbelaere) Thooft. She attended school in Graceville and graduated high school from Graceville Academy. After graduating, it wasn’t long before she was to meet her future husband, George Lanoue. The couple were married at St. Eloi Catholic Church in Ghent, on September 6, 1955. This union was blessed with 13 children, Michael, Steven, Joseph, Lawrence, Mary, Rose, Linda, George E., Christine, June, Angie, Patrick and Stacy.
Mary loved family! She considered everyone she met family and cared for them. She was strong willed, faithful, and an inspiration to her children. She would do little things to make everyone feel special. She enjoyed gardening, nature and children. She devoted her life to George, the love of her life, her children and her church where she was a member of the CCW, taught religion, cleaned linens for church, was a sacristan and would lead the rosary with her dear friend Rita LaVoy. Mary devoted her time to her family and prayer. She will be deeply missed by all that had the opportunity to be her family.
Mary passed away peacefully on Friday, March 15, 2019 at the McLaughlin Hospice House in Marshall at the age of 84. Mary leaves behind her husband of sixty-three years, George Lanoue; children Steven (Dawn), Joseph (Becky), Lawrence (Phyllis), Mary (Richard) Schlemmer, Rose (Chris) Kramer, Linda (Neil) Dolan, George (Peggy), Christine (Jeff) Landherr, Angie (Jeff) Orren, Patrick (Christie), Stacy Schuh; daughter-in-law, Jolene Tople; forty grandchildren; forty-two great-grandchildren; sisters Emma DeLanghe, Marian (Leon) Van Den Broeke and Jeanette (Vincent) Lanoue; brother Gene (Agnes) Thooft; many nieces, nephews and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Mary Thooft; children Michael and June Lanoue; great-grandson Bryce Lanoue; sister Louise Ruud; brothers Raymond, Amie, Ernest and Amandus Thooft; son-in-law John Schuh; and in-laws Camille and Mary Lanoue.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Michael Catholic Church of Milroy or Prairie Home Hospice.
