Obituary for VERA MAE PALOMAKI (Boyd)
On October 27, 2022, Vera Mae Palomaki (née Boyd), loving wife, mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 82 with her family and special friends at her side.
Vera was born on March 2, 1940 on the family farm in Bonne Terre, MO and was the mother of two sons. She was a country girl through and through, and maintained her love of southern cooking, especially chicken and dumplings and sweet tea, throughout her life. When she was 18, she met Airman Donald Palomaki of Negaunee, Michigan, at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis, and it was love at first sight. She and Don married in Bonne Terre, MO, but life soon brought Vera to Buffalo Hill Location (now Buffalo Road) in Negaunee, via Little Rock, Arkansas, where she would live the rest of her life.
Although she had not a drop of Finnish blood, Vera had more sisu and was far more stubborn than any of us. Vera struggled with many health problems throughout her life, but she overcame them all; for example, as Vera began to lose her sight due to lupus, she became an avid listener of books on tape, and especially enjoyed the romance and spy mystery genres. Vera was also an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, where members will recall her incredible baked goods and delicious salads.
In the months preceding her death, Vera and her beloved Don celebrated 64 years of marriage. Vera is survived by her husband and love of her life Don; her two sons, Ted (Mickey) of Park City, Utah, and Jeff (Cheryl) of Endicott, New York; her sister, Yvonne; nephews, Jimmy Dale (Lori) and Steven, all of Missouri; her three grandchildren: Ross (Sarah) and Lisa of Bozeman, Montana, and Kya of Salt Lake City, Utah; nephew, Doug (Kathy) of Negaunee; and niece, Lynne of Branford, Connecticut, by whom she will be sorely missed along with numerous great nieces and nephews.
Memorial services for Vera will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 5th at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Negaunee, with Rev. Terry Cathcart officiating. Interment will be in the Negaunee Cemetery. The family will greet relatives and friends for one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday, and also at a coffee hour held in the Fellowship Hall at the Church immediately following services.
Vera's family wishes to thank the wonderful staff of Eastwood Nursing Center and our Church family at Immanuel. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift to the BSBP Braille and Talking Library in Lansing, the Negaunee Senior Center, or Immanuel Lutheran Church.
For those unable to attend Saturday's services, the Memorial Service will be live-streamed, and can be found at immanuelnegaunee.org
Mrs. Palomaki’s memorial page may be viewed at koskeyfuneralhome.com
Vera was born on March 2, 1940 on the family farm in Bonne Terre, MO and was the mother of two sons. She was a country girl through and through, and maintained her love of southern cooking, especially chicken and dumplings and sweet tea, throughout her life. When she was 18, she met Airman Donald Palomaki of Negaunee, Michigan, at the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis, and it was love at first sight. She and Don married in Bonne Terre, MO, but life soon brought Vera to Buffalo Hill Location (now Buffalo Road) in Negaunee, via Little Rock, Arkansas, where she would live the rest of her life.
Although she had not a drop of Finnish blood, Vera had more sisu and was far more stubborn than any of us. Vera struggled with many health problems throughout her life, but she overcame them all; for example, as Vera began to lose her sight due to lupus, she became an avid listener of books on tape, and especially enjoyed the romance and spy mystery genres. Vera was also an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, where members will recall her incredible baked goods and delicious salads.
In the months preceding her death, Vera and her beloved Don celebrated 64 years of marriage. Vera is survived by her husband and love of her life Don; her two sons, Ted (Mickey) of Park City, Utah, and Jeff (Cheryl) of Endicott, New York; her sister, Yvonne; nephews, Jimmy Dale (Lori) and Steven, all of Missouri; her three grandchildren: Ross (Sarah) and Lisa of Bozeman, Montana, and Kya of Salt Lake City, Utah; nephew, Doug (Kathy) of Negaunee; and niece, Lynne of Branford, Connecticut, by whom she will be sorely missed along with numerous great nieces and nephews.
Memorial services for Vera will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 5th at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Negaunee, with Rev. Terry Cathcart officiating. Interment will be in the Negaunee Cemetery. The family will greet relatives and friends for one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday, and also at a coffee hour held in the Fellowship Hall at the Church immediately following services.
Vera's family wishes to thank the wonderful staff of Eastwood Nursing Center and our Church family at Immanuel. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift to the BSBP Braille and Talking Library in Lansing, the Negaunee Senior Center, or Immanuel Lutheran Church.
For those unable to attend Saturday's services, the Memorial Service will be live-streamed, and can be found at immanuelnegaunee.org
Mrs. Palomaki’s memorial page may be viewed at koskeyfuneralhome.com