Erin Elizabeth Hoover

Erin Elizabeth Hoover was born in Muskegon, Michigan to Deborah Ann Hoover on January 25th, 1979. This small family moved to the Detroit area to be nearer to Erin's maternal Aunt Beth, a woman who was always like a second mother to Erin. Combined with the uniquely nurturing relationship between Debbie and Beth, a lifelong bond developed that was the basis of Erin's strong, compassionate, gentle spirit.

In childhood, Erin and Debbie shared a home with Aunt Beth, her husband, Michael Wheelock and their two sons, Dennis and Gary. This family laughed, loved, and enjoyed life together. Vacations were taken in the summer months with Aunt Connie Hannink, Debbie and Beth's sister, and Connie's son John Hannink. The cousins and family enjoyed weeks at their grandmother's cottage in Bracebridge, Ontario, swimming, sunning, and eating what they always thought of as a Canadian delicacy, the butter tart.

Erin attended Dearborn Heights Public Schools in the Crestwood district. There she met who would become her family of girlfriends, most of whom remain close today and are too numerous to honor by name here. This group of proud, independent girls would attend the school dances together, plan camping trips, joined Girl Scouts, and grew each into their own with the loving support of one another. Among these girls is Laurah Bajorek with whom Erin had a special relationship. We know Erin was grateful for the love and support each of these beautiful women brought to her life.

During high school, Erin got a job at Oakwood Commons, an assisted living center for senior citizens. There she met Kelly Beesley and Mary Poslaiko who would become her closest friends in adulthood. This trio would love and nurture each other through lots of good food and celebration, marriages, pregnancies, childbirths, Master's programs and never ending love and support.

Erin worked at a daycare for a number of years while putting herself through school. Erin was a "baby whisperer." If a baby was crying and there was no one in the room able to soothe it, Erin could and would. It was simply what she was born to do. She was never happier than when making children happy.

Exceedingly smart and incredibly gentle, she earned her Master's degree from the University of Michigan School of Social Work. She excelled at her career as an infant mental health specialist. Her family is proud to think of the countless number of families she helped through the more than ten years she worked mentoring good parenting skills for mom's with little to no resources. The say it only takes one person to change the trajectory of a child's life. We like to think she has been that one person to hundreds of kids.

Throughout her life, Erin developed a whole village of wonderful people she carefully and thoughtfully built for herself. As a single woman in her 30's she decided the time to wait for her chance at motherhood was over. With the help of this village, Erin chose to become a mother as a single woman. Through the magic of science, a lot of medical tests, a generous genetic donor, and some good luck, she became pregnant and bore a son. Winslow Owen Hoover is 4 years old and the light in our lives.

Erin loved nothing more than hearing about acts of love and kindness being done in the world. Her family asks that in lieu of flowers, please go forth in life doing deliberate acts of kindness in her honor. #erinslegacy

Please come celebrate Erin's life with us on Saturday October 28, 2017 from 1-5 pm at the Harry J. Will Funeral Home Banquet Room, 37000 Six Mile Rd. (east of Newburgh and I-275) in Livonia. Join the family throughout the afternoon to share memories, stories and refreshments.