Pamela Ann Fraser

Pamela Ann Fraser (Durfee), age 74, of Milford, was born September 27, 1949 in Ypsilanti, and passed away December 5, 2023 in Milford. Beloved wife of the late Thomas Craig Fraser Sr. for almost 50 years. Loving and passionate mother of Tommy (Charlene) Fraser, Bonnie (Steve) Saco, Jennie (Jeff) Schrameck , and Katie (Daniel) Yankus. Cherished and beloved grandmother of Emma Fraser, Julia Schrameck, Eli Saco, Ryan Schrameck, Trenton Fraser, Abi Saco, Lauren Schrameck, Colton Fraser, Lidia Yankus, and Josie Yankus. Pam was preceded in death by her brother LeRoy Durfee and her parents LeRoy and Marilyn Durfee. She was the beloved sister of Vicki (Ken) Bloink, Becky (Bob) Hines, Bob Durfee, and Jeff Durfee. Pam was Aunt to many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. She will be deeply missed by her extended family members and friends including her many cherished cousins, faithful and devoted friends from high school, her neighbors who looked after her from her many residences in Michigan, the strangers she became instant friends with everywhere she went including coney islands, boat tours in Frankenmuth, Facebook, check out lines in stores, football and hockey games, and Christmas Show performances for her granddaughters. She was a rare gem, a diamond in the roughest and toughest experiences life brought her way. Yet, Pamela, in all her sorrows, found joy in Jesus, whom she is now forever in His presence and peace.

Pam graduated from Taylor Center High School in 1967. She was on court her senior year and participated in the Jr Miss pageants. She was a cheerleader and assisted theatrical productions where she used her talents as an artist painting and making props. She met her husband, Tom, after high school at a Big Boy restaurant where she presumed Tom and their mutual friend, Bob, was “stiffing her” with their dinner bill. She made her disapproval and presence known and the two invited her to join them. Tom and Pam realized they had a mutual math class at WCCC where they made plans for Tom to help her with math. Not long after, they were engaged and soon married in 1970.

After starting their family, Pam began using her gifts and talents for her children. She sketched many portraits, caricatures, and watercolors. She once painted a mural of Disney characters (before copyright laws) in the library at Cory Elementary School in Romulus as a young mother of three. Her children were very proud to say their mother painted the mural on library days. She also taught art to her son’s 6th grade class. For her youngest daughter, Pam painted the outside of a playhouse in the backyard of their Trenton house, built by Tom.

Uniquely, Pam was left-handed, but taught herself to write with her right-hand. She was a painter with the left and a poet with the right as she wrote many thoughtful letters and cards through the years. Oftentimes, she wowed her family and friends by writing forward and backward at the same time. Many of her letters to her recipients required them to read her treasured sentiments’ reflection in a mirror as they were written backwards.

She was active in her community and family. She served as a brownie troop leader, volunteered and assisted many gymnastics meets and invitationals with her artistry and organizational skills. She was a softball, soccer, and basketball mom, a gymnastics, pom, and dance mom, and most notably, a hockey mom.

One of her greatest achievements was her assistance with initiating the installation of the American POW/MIA flag in the state of Michigan. Her efforts and advocacy with her POW group helped to start the commemorative flying of these flags around the state and nation. She was the proud daughter of a Marine.

Pam supported her husband Tom faithfully through several moves around the state of Michigan and two international moves to Mexico, altogether for a total of 18 moves. While in Mexico, she often visited an orphanage where she would rock and hold the infants, comforting and caring for each of them as her own.

In her later years, she became the greatest of roles, caregiver to Tom after his AVM stroke in 2010. She stood by his side faithfully and cared for him until his passing in 2019. Pam spent the remaining four years of her life healing from the downs and rejoicing in the ups of her life with her family, friends, children and grandchildren. She was full of life when she passed away, healed, whole, and prepared for December 5, 2023, when she was welcomed into the presence of her Savior Jesus and rejoicing with Him for eternity. She will be dearly missed.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at Oakpointe Church of Milford, 1250 S. Hill Road, Milford, Michigan 48381. Pam's family will receive visitors on Friday, December 15, 2023, from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm at the Highland Chapel of the Elton Black & Son Funeral Home, 3295 E. Highland Road, Highland, Michigan 48356.