Our beautiful mother, Jamie, was born on October 6, 1948, to James and Elizabeth (Betty Popp) Drouillard in Bedford, Michigan (Go Blue!). She graduated from Bedford High school in 1966. In 1967 she began her career as “Mom.” Her career as a mom to her 4 daughters included a wide range of duties such as hair designer, costume maker, cookie baker, referee and full-time chauffeur, just to hit the highlights. Once everyone was in school, she had time to perfect her greatest skill – baking. She won “best Polish coffee cake” five years in a row at the Polish Festival on Lagrange Street – our favorite bragging right. She was best known for her Polish coffee cakes, banana cupcakes, pie cuts and angel food cakes – just to name a few.
She retired from the Lucas County Library (reading was another love of hers which she passed to all her daughters) but continued to work there part-time until 2020.
2020 also brought to her a reoccurrence of breast cancer. Jamie completed a courageous and hard fought 30-year battle.
Jamie is preceded by her father, James (Donna) Drouillard and mother, Elizabeth (Dale) Hoffman.
Left to cherish her memory is her devoted husband of 32 years, Robert Lada; her loving daughters; Dawn (Joel) Liske, Gayle (Matt) Heer, Gina Taylor and Christine Crooks; granddaughters, Anisha, Ashley, Chelsea, Shelby, Alivia, Emma, Tessa and grandson, Andrew; 14 great-grandchildren, Xavier, Evan, Cayden, Ella, Brian, Paisley, Eli, Amara, Gemma, Marlee, Savannah, Macee, Jack, Stella, and one on the way.
Also surviving is her sister, Paula Drouillard, Susan (Glenn) Debbe, Sharon Del Verne and brother, David (DeeDee) St. Aubin; sisters-in-law, Trish Conn, Rosie (Bob) Precht, Barbie Sutter and brother-in-law; Joseph (Judy) Lada. As well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and family and friends.
The family will receive guests to celebrate her life on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in the Urbanski’s Bedford Funeral Chapel 8300 Lewis Ave Temperance, MI where a rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. A memorial mass will be celebrated on Thursday, June 1, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Adalbert Catholic Church 3233 Lagrange St. Toledo, OH.
The family asks donations be considered in Jamie’s honor be sent to Susan J. Komen Breast Cancer fund: www.komen.org