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BARK RIVER -- Mary Lou LaPalm, 84, of Bark River, passed away on Monday, October 5, 2026 at OSF St. Francis Hospital.
Mary was born June 9, 1942 in Escanaba, Michigan to the late John and Marie (Anderson) Picard. She was raised in Schaffer, Michigan and graduated from Escanaba High School. On December 28, 1963, she married Harlan LaPalm at Sacred Heart Church in Schaffer. Together they raised three children: David, Connie, and Michael.
Outside of being a homemaker and mother, Mary worked as a cook at both the TJ Café and Bark River Café. She also sold cosmetics as an Avon Lady. Mary enjoyed playing card games and gambling with friends and family, going to bingo, bowling, and horseshoe.
Among survivors include her husband, Harlan LaPalm of Bark River, Michigan; children, David (Pam) LaPalm of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Connie (James) Valencic of Carney, Michigan, and Michael (Mary) LaPalm of Munising, Michigan; sister, Donna Tourangeau of Escanaba; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Jack, Pete, Joe, and Jerry Picard.
Visitation will be on Friday, October 16 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Crawford Funeral Chapel, 1236 Old Hwy 2 & 41, Bark River. The funeral service will follow at noon with Rev. Vinoy Thomas Panthilapadam officiating. A meal will follow at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church. Burial will take place in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Schaffer.
The Crawford Funeral Homes are assisting the LaPalm family with arrangements. A message of condolence may be directed to the family by visiting crawfordfuneralhomes.net.
