Elaine Margaret Girard

Born in Detroit to the late John Michael Spath and Angeline Kronibus, Elaine demonstrated her spirit and her love of her hometown at a young age, traveling alone as a teenager to watch her beloved Detroit Tigers play. She no doubt wore the same bright and warming smile on those game days as the one she shared easily and with everyone throughout her life.

For decades, she gave of herself through the Catholic church in several parishes, from teaching catechism to providing communion to patients of Mount Clemens General Hospital to volunteering at soup kitchens and in charitable fundraising. Her generosity was personal as well, including providing rides to church and doctors’ visits to her fellow residents at her apartment complex, all performed with her distinctive and encouraging smile.

She passed this giving spirit to her eight children: Mary Ann, Therese (George) Skakun, Robert (Linda) Girard, Jane (Dean) Garrison, Nancy (the late Donald) Keller, the late Michael (Patricia) Girard, William (Jill) Girard, and Carol (Michael) Upchurch. Her ten grandchildren loved her for so many reasons, not least of which was her dedication to that most grandmotherly task of remembering and celebrating all of their birthdays: Kimberly, Maria, Christina, Jonathan, David Paul, David Charles, Scott, Megan, Kaitlyn, and Michael. Nine great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and her brother John “Jack” Spath will all deeply miss beloved Elaine.

Elaine will be remembered through a funeral mass on Saturday, August 9, at 11:30 am at St. Michael Catholic Community at 40501 Hayes Road in Sterling Heights, MI. Visitation will be August 8 from 3-8 p.m. at Resurrection Funeral Home at 40800 Hayes Road in Clinton Township, MI. Please visit online at www.resurrectionfuneralhome.com.

To give without complaint. To smile without fail. To love without condition.