Marie C. "Cecille" Pilon

Marie Cecille Pilon passed away April 9, 2021 at Aspen Ridge Retirement Village in Gaylord. She was born October 21, 1922 in Cheboygan to Edward Mason and Martha (Sova) Mason and grew up on Western Avenue in Cheboygan, near the Embury-Martin sawmill, where she would bring lunch to her father, who worked there. She graduated from Cheboygan High School in 1940.

 Cecille met the love of her life, Joseph Pilon, before his deployment in World War II. Their steadfast love and dedication to each other was evident in their letters back and forth during the war. They married on April 28, 1945 at St. Charles Church in Cheboygan. Joe and Cecille lived the first year of their marriage in Kentucky, where Joe was stationed after returning from the South Pacific. Following his discharge from the Army, they returned to the family farm in Cheboygan and raised eight children together.

Cecille was a homemaker for many years. She enjoyed cooking, baking, gardening, canning, and picking berries. Cecille later worked at Community Memorial Hospital in Cheboygan in the dietary department. Following her retirement, she then volunteered on a weekly basis at the hospital in the extended care unit. Cecille’s love and care toward others was a reflection of her love for the Lord.

Cecille was a member of St. Charles Catholic Church (later St. Mary/St. Charles), sang in the Resurrection Choir and was an active member of the Daughters of Isabella for many years. Her faith was always very important to her and she lived it every day in her kindness toward everyone she encountered. Whether it was giving rides to her many friends, rocking her grandbabies, or crocheting afghans for others, Cecille was the embodiment of kindness and an extension of God’s love. Cecille enjoyed being social and visiting with family and friends. She often played games with others and never passed up an opportunity to play Scrabble. She maintained written correspondence with others and sent letters and birthday cards to her many loved ones. Cecille looked forward to socializing at the Sand Road Senior Center, at Newport Village, and at Aspen Ridge Retirement Village in Gaylord. In her later years, Cecille would remark that she saw more changes in the world than any other generation—from traveling by horse and buggy to the dawning of the internet, she witnessed it all. In her time on this earth, Cecille touched the hearts and lives of many. The memories of her joyous laughter, her gentle touch, and her giving nature will remain in our hearts. She was loved by many and she will be missed by many.

Cecille is survived by her sons; John ( Ruth) Pilon of Grayling and David (Sue) Pilon of Weston, Wisconsin, daughters; Carol (Dale) Lambert of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Susan (Bob) Heil of Greenfield, Wisconsin, Bonnie (Mike) Bancroft of Cheboygan, Janice (Dave) Martell of Monroe, Michigan and Renee (Dan) Janisse of Zeeland, Michigan, son-in-law Doug Rogers of Punta Gorda, Florida, 22 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph in 1998 and daughter Sharon Rogers in 2010, as well as by her parents Edward and Martha Mason, brother Edward Mason and sister Louise Lippard.

 Visitation will take place on Wednesday, April 14, from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 at the Nordman-Christian Funeral Home. The funeral mass will take place at St. Mary/St. Charles Catholic Church on Thursday, April 15, at 11:00 a.m. with viewing beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial will take place at Mt. Calvary Cemetery immediately following the funeral mass. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bishop Baraga School or Right to Life of Michigan.

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