Laurie Fitch

Laurel (Laurie, as she MUCH preferred to be called) Jean (Gierman) Fitch, age 72, was born on February 3, 1949 in Lansing, MI and was called home to be with the Lord on July 15, 2021. She graduated from Lansing Everett High School where she enjoyed twirling fire batons as the Marching Band Majorette. As a full-time stay at home mother, she ran a daycare center out of her home and enjoyed sharing her love of dance for many years as a beloved teacher at Patsy Watson’s School of Dance in Lansing. Once her children were a bit older, she worked for 25 years in the Marketing and Supply Chain Department of the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University. Her skills, talents, and work ethic led her to be honored with the esteemed Jack Breslin University Employee of the Year Award in 2001. Upon her retirement, she enjoyed spending time in Hubbard Lake, Michigan and Orange Beach, Alabama spoiling her family, especially her grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents (Florence) Marie (Warren) and Paul Gierman and Thomas Dunavant, and her niece Tammy (Taylor) Logan. She is survived by her loving, devoted husband, John Fitch, children Michelle Bailey, Steven (Carmen) Fitch, Laura (William) Stubbs, Andrea (Steve) Gillum, and Erin (Erik) Smith; honorary son, Scott Reed; siblings Lynne Wright, Deb Cutshaw, Rhonda Grant, and Jill Whitmore. She cherished 14 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and countless nieces and nephews who will remember her with fondness each time they savor the sweetness of M&M candies or Dumdum suckers that she loved to share with them. She loved and is loved by her family and friends, and she will be forever remembered with admiration and adoration.  The Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Fr. Bill Lugger at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 20, 2021, at St. Mary Cathedral, 219 Seymour Ave., Lansing.  Interment will follow at DeWitt Cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel on Monday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude’s Research Hospital or Hospice of Michigan.