of Ann Arbor, MI, left this world on Friday, January 10, 2025. Elizabeth Rose Gougeon was born to William George “Bill” Gougeon and Clara Elizabeth (Varga) Gougeon in Wyandotte, Michigan, on July 15, 1939. Her father was of French-Canadian descent, her mother a native of Zádorfalva, Hungary.
She is survived by her loving husband, Donald Weise; their children, John Weise (Stephanie Bentley), Heidi Weise (Kortney Briske), and Bridget Weise Knyal (Stephen Kinnard); survived also by her beloved grandchildren, Samuel Weise, Chloe Weise, Talia Briske, Alexandra Margraves (Nick Margraves), Wade Knyal, and Violet Knyal. She is also survived by many additional beloved members of the Weise, Gougeon, and Knurek families. She was preceded in death by her parents and her loving sister Mary Lou (Gougeon) Knurek.
Elizabeth (Liz) graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in Wyandotte Michigan, where she was a cheerleader and always ready for a good laugh. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Art and Education at Marygrove College in Detroit, Michigan. Elizabeth taught high school art and kindergarten for many years, primarily in Hillsdale County, Michigan. She particularly enjoyed the funny sayings of her kindergarten students, one of whom called her “Mrs. Boogity” for fun. She was also a Hillsdale County vision technician and worked for the University of Michigan later in life.
She and Don knew each other in high school but fell in love after college when they were in their twenties and both working in education. On their first date, she spilled her coffee on him (twice) and the rest was history. They began their family in Trenton, Michigan and moved to a farm house in Hillsdale, Michigan in 1974. They enjoyed raising kids in a peaceful setting with a zinnia patch, vegetable garden, barn, pond and views of the surrounding fields.
When their kids were out of high school, they moved to Ann Arbor where Don and the kids had attended University of Michigan. They frequented their favorite restaurants and were lovingly engaged in the day-to-day lives of their grandchildren – visiting their homes, babysitting regularly, and attending countless of their events and activities. Liz cherished hosting family Sunday dinners at their house in Ann Arbor and later at the historic farm house they moved to in Dexter, Michigan. She loved having family near and watching the grandchildren play, and had a special gift for creating sweet family traditions.
Liz was here to laugh. She was quick to notice the funny things and moments in life, and equally quick to pull you in on the laughs. She and Don shared joy in the beauty and wonder of nature, whether in their own backyard or at their beloved Lake Michigan.
She died peacefully, surrounded by the comfort of her husband, children, and grandchildren in the extraordinary, loving care of the staff at Towsley Village and Arbor Hospice. Her body has been cremated, according to her wishes and her immediate family will gather for a small memorial in January. The family is eternally grateful to the staff at Chelsea Retirement Community, as well as the friends and family that have supported them with kind words in recent years. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Liz to the Porter Hills Foundation.
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