Gloria Ann LeCureux, 77, of Sterling Heights, Michigan, passed away peacefully at home on November 4, 2023. She was born in Detroit in 1946 to Michael and Leona Baluk, the younger sister of Laura and Joyce.
At 16, she met the love of her life Gerald LeCureux at the roller rink, where he offered to lace her skate and she wrote down her phone number for him with an eyebrow pencil. The two made their home in East Detroit, where they raised two daughters, Beth and Trish. Gloria devoted her life to her children and family.
Nova Scotia held a special place in her heart, as did Celtic music, researching her rich family history, and reminiscing on childhood days spent with family in Marine City. So much of her life was spent traveling with family and friends, including cross-country road trips, camping at Pinery Provincial Park, tracking down ancestors in France, and blissfully watching freighters move down the river. She was a proud member of the French Canadian Heritage Society of Michigan and a Girl Scout Brownie Troop Leader for many years.
Gloria feared no task, no matter how daunting, and could fix almost anything. She is remembered for her fierce determination and her sense of humor. While Alzheimer’s disease changed the last years of her life, Gloria held fast to her spirit and her spark. She remained deeply in love with Jerry and was the center of her family through it all. Gloria’s husband, daughters, and grandchildren became her caregivers as Jerry fulfilled his promise that Gloria would live out her days at home. In her final months, Gloria was also blessed with caregivers Jeanne and Kendall, whose compassion brightened her days. Her passing was made dignified and peaceful through the care of Henry Ford Hospice, Jeanne, and her family who loved her so.
Gloria was preceded in death by her parents Leona and Michael Baluk; sister Joyce Spicher; brother-in-law James Gahara; nephew Michael Spicher; and other family members she loved dearly.
She is survived by her devoted husband of nearly 60 years, Jerry LeCureux; daughters Beth Bur and Trish (Mike) Brockway; sister Laura Gahara; brother-in-law Paul Spicher; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Ron and Sharon LeCureux; grandchildren Krista (Kurtis) Kirkpatrick, Matthew Bur, Paige (Jackson) Gilbert, Emma Brockway, and Lukas Brockway; and great-grandchildren Amelia, Blake, Eliza, and Charles. She is forever Aunt Go-Go to Jason and Josh LaVigne. Gloria’s life was filled with countless cousins, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, and friends who surrounded her with love.
Viewing will be Wednesday, November 8 from 3:00-8:00 P.M. at Kaul Funeral Home in Clinton Township. Gloria will lay in state at 10:30am on Thursday, November 9 before a funeral mass at 11:00 A.M. at St. Michael Catholic Church in Sterling Heights. Donations to Henry Ford Hospice in memory of Gloria would be greatly appreciated.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kaul-funeral.com for the LeCureux family.
