Mary Madeline LaRoy

Mary Madeline LaRoy, 88, of Riga, Michigan, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Born on August 28, 1937, in Monroe, Michigan, to Belgian immigrants Firmin and Irma VanDevelde, she graduated from St. Mary Academy in 1955. As a young girl, Mary helped her family hand-milk cows and deliver milk in Monroe by horse-drawn wagon. On June 2, 1956, she married the love of her life, Gustave LaRoy, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Monroe. Together they shared nearly 64 years until his passing on February 18, 2020.

Mary lived a full and blessed life as a devoted homemaker, deeply committed to her faith, family, and friends. As a young couple, she and Gus farmed in Addison, Michigan, while raising their seven children. In 1969 they moved to Riga, where she became an active member of St. Anthony Church in Temperance. She participated in church festivals, mother-daughter breakfasts, and rummage sales, later serving as a Eucharistic Minister and volunteering with the Monroe County Chapter of Right to Life. Her daily rosary brought her great comfort and strength.

Mary found her greatest joy in parties, social gatherings, and time spent with family and friends. She was an enthusiastic member of her Church Ladies Club, bowled in leagues, played cards, and loved polka dances. She and Gus spent many winters in Florida and traveled together to Alaska, Minnesota, and across the United States, including a cherished trip to Belgium and Lourdes, France. At home, she created a warm and welcoming environment for her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, filling the house with the aromas of her famous crescent rolls, Belgian lukken, cookies, oatmeal cake, raisin bread, and cinnamon rolls. Her love of flowers was evident each summer in the colorful blooms that filled her yard and patio.

Mary is survived by her children, Angela (Eduardo) Christensen-Rodriguez, Terese (Daniel) Gust, Laura (Darrell) Rush, Paul (Kelly) LaRoy, Steven (Debra) LaRoy, and Kathryn (Jay Leichty) Blochowski; daughter-in-law Paula LaRoy; 22 grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren with one more on the way; one step great-grandchild; sisters-in-law Betty Ann LaRoy and Patricia LaRoy; and brother-in-law John Schmidt. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Gustave, brother Andrew VanDevelde, sisters-in-law Shirley VanDevelde and Shirley Schmidt, brother-in-law Robert LaRoy, son Gustave LaRoy Jr., son-in-law Mark Christensen, and grandson Nicholas Christensen.