Laurel Bleau

Laurel Ann Rissman Bleau March 27, 1950 - August 8, 2013 Laurel Bleau, 63, of The Villages, FL, passed away on August 8, 2013, in Michigan with her loving family by her side. Laurel was born to the late Ervin and Barbara (Spickerman) Rissman in Rockford, IL on March 27, 1950. She graduated from DeKalb High School in DeKalb, IL in 1968, and Northern Illinois University in 1972, with a BA in Education. She married her best friend and soul mate, William "Bill" Bleau, in 1979, and together they lived out their fairytale in multiple places during their 34 years of marriage, including: St. Louis, MO; Waukesha, WI; Rochester Hills, MI; Naperville, IL; Okemos, MI; New Milford, CT; Grosse Pointe, MI; Brighton, MI; Virginia Beach, VA and The Villages, FL. Laurel was an elementary school teacher in her 20's, and then went back to substitute teaching for a time after her daughters were grown, but what she was passionate about was her family. Laurel raised four adoring daughters and was the devoted mother who was always there for her children. She and her husband loved sailing and boating, and they loved traveling in their motorhome. In her later years, Laurel loved to paint and became a talented artist for too short a time. She adored being a grandmother and relished every second spent with "her babies." Laurel is survived by her loving husband Bill, and her four daughters; Jenny (Chris) Connor of Lake Orion, MI; Shelley Bleau of Royal Oak, MI; Lindy (AJ) Mueller of Lake Orion, MI; and Bobbie (Jesse) Boeving of Howell, MI. She is also survived by her three grandchildren: Olivia, Cameron and William. Laurel is also survived by her sister, Leslie Pecilunas of Medina, OH; niece, Kimmie (Brandon) Rapp of Medina, OH; nephew, David (Megan) Pecilunas of Phoenix, AZ and uncle, O.G. "George" Weisheit of The Villages, FL. A "celebration of life" gathering will take place at Oak Pointe Country Club, 4500 Club Drive, Brighton, MI, 48116 on Tuesday August 20th, 4pm - 9pm, with a prayer service at 7pm. Another service will take place in The Villages, FL this fall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Operation Shoebox, a charity that sends care packages overseas to our military personnel. Laurel volunteered with this charity in The Villages and it was near and dear to her heart. Donations can be sent to: Operation Shoebox, c/o Sandy DeChristofaro, 920 Camino Del Rey Drive, The Villages, FL 32159.