Doris Jean Lillrose

Doris Jean Lillrose, 87, passed away surrounded by family on January 26, 2023. Doris was born in Lansing Michigan on June 4, 1935 to Lyle and Marjorie Hepfer. She married Jack Lillrose on October 6, 1956.

She graduated in 1955 as a Licensed Practical Nurse and worked for many years as a nurse here in the Lansing area. She was always there to help numerous family, friends and others whenever illness, accident or other needs arose. She retired from Martin Luther Holt Home in 2004.

She was a charter member of Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos and enjoyed taking her grandchildren to church every Sunday. They always found time to fight over who would sit in the very back seat. She made many quilts with the women at church as they got together for their weekly quilting bee.

She also enjoyed singing for many years with the Mason chapter of Sweet Adelines. She competed in many Sweet Adelines competitions and used her sewing talents to make many of their costumes.

In addition to sewing, she enjoyed playing the piano along with canning, cooking and baking. She was always delivering her homemade goodies to friends and family. She was well known for her homemade bread, cinnamon rolls and various pies. Her potato soup was always a hit. It was only exceeded by her famous bean soup with pig hocks. She loved to take her family picking apples at Clearview orchards, strawberries and blueberries at Birds strawberry farm. She was a regular volunteer at the rescue mission on Michigan Avenue in Lansing. She enjoyed going to Frankenmuth for chicken dinners and to see the glockenspiel at the Bavarian inn.

Her favorite treat came every Saturday when Denny and Bev would stop in with her salted pecan caramel sundae from Culvers. Hers was always gone before Denny and Bev started theirs. She never passed up the opportunity to go to Big Johns Steak and Onion or Culvers. Over the last few weeks, she started a brand-new wave. Denny calls this way the “Princess Wave”.

Doris is survived by her 4 children Kirk (Annette), Dennis (Beverly), Nancy (Bryan) and Mark, 12 grandchildren, step-grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and siblings John, Harold, Jim, Mary, Martha, Suzie and numerous other nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.

The family will receive visitors Thursday, February 2, 2023 from 6 – 8 PM and Friday, February 3rd, 2023 from 10 – 11 AM. Funeral services will be Friday, February 3rd, 2023 at 11:00 AM both live stream and in-person. The visitation and funeral will be held at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home, 1730 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI.

Donations may be made to Care Team Hospice at 5401 Gateway Center, Suite D, Flint, MI 48507