Elaine Victoria Sabourin, age 95, of Westland, Michigan passed away on Friday March 1, 2018. Born to the late Axel Wilhelm Swanson and Ellen Atalia Bergstrom on January 14, 1923. Beloved wife of the late John Rae Sabourin.
Elaine (“Vickie”) was most happy surrounded by her loved ones. She found her love for sewing early in life, gifting many Raggedy Ann and Andys, Holly Hobbies, and various other crafts to her children and grandchildren. She later turned her hobby into a little side business in the 80’s when her handmade clowns were sold in hotel and hospital gift shops. While she most enjoyed making University of Michigan clowns, she held her breath while also sewing Buckeye clowns for a gift shop in Columbus, Ohio. Go Blue!
Elaine was very proud of her 100% Swedish heritage. While born in the United States, she was able to travel to her father’s birth country in 2000, accompanied by two of her children. Elaine explored many churches in Sweden and connected with relatives she had never met at the age of 77. She collected Swedish Dala Horses and shared the traditions of Sankta Lucia and Swedish Wish Cookies (“pepparkakors”) – traditions that have lovingly been embraced by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren (while Lutefisk has strongly been rejected).
Elaine was an avid gardener, joining the Horticulture Club through Elderwise Learning in Ann Arbor. You could often find her in her backyard watching the birds and tending to her flowers and tomato plants. She loved to read and write, corresponding with pen pals across the country. She always had open arms and a warm lap for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren looking for a story to read, even through her final years. And, when she did not have the energy to be the storyteller, her great-grandchildren read to her. Since her death, her family has discovered a few heartbreakingly beautiful letters to her loved ones who had preceded her in death. Another example of Elaine always wanting to keep her family close.
Elaine is survived by daughters Patricia Ann Sabourin, Linda (Angelo) Escalona, and Carol Elizabeth Westerdale. Devoted Grandmother of Kathleen (David) Robertson, Kimberly Bredin, Laura (Barry) Boyd, Sharon Vandeveer, Jennifer Sabourin (Kenneth) Kalousek, Lisa Kochanski, Michelle Nawrocki, John (Elizabeth) Sabourin, and Jacqueline Sabourin. Great Grandmother of Megan, Sarah, Jeaneil, Crystal, Brooklyn, Tyler, Cody, Justin, Brooke, Brittney, Jack, Andrew, Abigail, Norah, and Christian. Great-Great-Grandmother of Isabella, Jaxson, Veronica, and Mason. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by sons James Rae Sabourin and John Robert Sabourin, grandson Teddy Frank Kochanski, great-granddaughter Emma Grace McGonnell, and siblings Esther Dorothy Swanson, Anna Cecilia Miller, Robert Swanson, Carl Norman Swanson, Sylvia Ingeborg Sprunk, Victor Edgar Swanson, and Axel Clifford Swanson.
Visitation for Elaine will be on Monday, March 5, 2018 from 2:00pm to 9:00pm at Harry J Will Funeral Home, 37000 Six Mile Rd, Livonia, Michigan. A funeral mass for Elaine will be held Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at 10:30am at St Kenneth Catholic Church, 14951 N Haggerty Rd, Livonia, Michigan. The final viewing at church will begin at 10:00am. Elaine will be laid to rest at Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery, 25800 W 10 Mile Rd, Southfield, Michigan 48033.
Contributions in Elaine's memory may be made to a charity of your choice.
