GRAYLING, Mich. — Lois P. Passint, age 100, a long-time resident of Bessemer, passed away peacefully in her sleep at the Grayling home of her daughter, Rita, and son-in-law, Alan, on Feb. 24, 2025.
Lois was born on June 14, 1924, in Ashland, Wisconsin, to Andrew and Claire Anderson. She was the oldest of four daughters.
She graduated from Depaduwa Catholic High School in 1943 and worked in a laundromat before leaving for Rockford, Illinois, where she and her sister, Bernice, became "Rosie the Riveter" girls, making B-52 bomber wings during World War II.
When the war was over, they came home and helped a friend at a roller-skating rink, where Lois met her future husband, Raymond Passint. They were married on June 25, 1949, at St. Agnes Church in Ashland and celebrated 50 years together.
Lois was a "city girl," but when she and Raymond were first married, they lived on the Steve Passint farm in North Bessemer. Lois learned how to drive a tractor and a dump truck and learned to garden and can and to raise chickens.
She also was employed at Grand View Hospital in Ironwood for 10 years in environmental services. She brightened all the patients' days when she came into their rooms. She and Ray loved to go out dancing, snowmobiling with friends and traveling to visit their daughters and family. Lois also babysat for several of her grandchildren.
She was a member of the Harding Community Club and a past president of the Bessemer VFW Ladies Auxiliary. She loved to paint, creating and giving away more than 30 beautiful paintings. She also loved to draw. "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" was her favorite movie (she saw it 13 times), so she drew those characters too. If you came to her home, you were considered family, and she gave everyone their very own nicknames.
When people asked her what her secret to living to 100 was, Lois would say, "I go up and down my stairs all day and eat oatmeal every day." But we would disagree and say it's because of her beautiful and happy attitude. She was always ready to go for a ride or just to be involved in any family activity.
Lois is survived by her daughters, Sharon Samarziya, Diane Ramme, Rita (Alan) Hack and Lisa (Scott) Johnson; grandchildren, Jesse (Jaime) Samarziya, Cole (Carrie) Samarziya, Daniel (April) Ramme, Tiffany (David) Ramme, Tom Hack, Troy (Jackie) Hack, Stephanie (Devvon) Johnson and Travis Johnson; 15 great grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren; and several very special nieces, nephews and friends.
Preceding Lois in death were her parents; husband; sisters, Bernice Foley, Marylou Holton and Rita Fitzgerald; sons-in-law, Donald Samarziya and Brian Ramme Sr.; grandson, Brian Ramme Jr.; and great-granddaughters, Alexis Russell and Jenna Samarziya.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 7, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation at 10 a.m. at the St. Sebastian Catholic Church, 210 E. Iron St. Bessemer, with the Rev. Dominic Agyapong as celebrant.
The family would like to thank all of Mom's caregivers, hospice nurses, Dr. Chris Pogliano and Dr. Franklin Villanueva, who all helped get her to her 100th birthday. A special thank-you to neighbors Jim, Diane and Chip; and to Sharon, Rita and Alan for all your love and care for mom for the past few years.
Thank you to Jerald Rocco, lifelong family friend, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., of Wakefield, who is assisting the family with arrangements. To send condolences or to share a memory, please go to lakesidememorialchapel.com.

Rest in peace, Mom. Although you are gone from our sight, you will remain in our hearts forever. We love you to the moon and back...a million times over.