Lastenia "Letty" M. St. Amour

As her friends and family knew well, Letty St. Amour was a real spitfire she was little, but she carried a big paddle! Her boundless energy was always directed to improving the world around her, however, from creating beautiful craft projects and a lovely garden to caring for her patients at Mercy Hospital. Above all else, Letty was dedicated to her family, and devoted her life to caring for those she loved. Lettys passion, determination, and kindness will live on in the hearts and memories of all those whose lives she touched; she was deeply loved, and will be deeply missed. Panama City, capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama, is located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal. Lastenia Letty Mercedes was born into this bustling metropolis on July 7, 1933, and shared her birth year with the debut of the Lone Ranger, the first alleged sighting of the Loch Ness monster, and the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Lettys proud parents, Florencio and Delvira (Barahona) Lasso, earned a living as small business owners, owning and operating a grocery store. The store was principally run by Florencio, while Delvira stayed home to raise their six children (two girls and four boys). As a child, Letty traveled often, and usually spent the summers with her aunts and grandmother in the interior of Panama. She was particularly close to her father and her brother, Napoleon (Napo), who always looked out for his younger sister. The years sped by, and before she knew it Letty had grown into a beautiful young lady. Her dream was to become a nurse, and although her mother was opposed, her father and Napo (a doctor) encouraged Letty to go to nursing school. She attended nursing school in Panama, and in due course graduated with a degree in nursing. In the meantime, Letty had been set up on a blind date at a beach party organized by her sister. Her date, Arthur William St. Amour, was an American soldier stationed in the Canal zone. Letty and Arthur hit it off right away, and continued to date in the months that followed. Their love, commitment, and honor for each other made them compatible, and they soon realized they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. Letty and Arthur were married on April 14, 1956, at St. Marys Catholic Church in Muskegon, Michigan. As the wife of an American citizen, Letty was granted the opportunity to come to America, as long as she had a job and a place to live. As a result, before Letty even met her mother-in-law, she found her the necessary job at Mercy Hospital in Muskegon! Although America would become Lettys home, she was always proud of her Panamanian heritage, and often spoke Spanish around the home. As the years went by, Letty and Arthur were blessed with four sons and two daughters: Brian, Michael, Patrick, Paul, Julie, and Susan. Letty was a loving and caring mother, and passed on her strong faith to her children. A communicant of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Letty even taught catechism for a time. Each day, Letty would gather her family together for daily prayers at her Shrine of the Sacred Heart, with her six Indians and a candle always burning. Letty also worked part-time as a registered nurse at Mercy Hospital Hackley Campus. For vacations, Letty and Arthur took the family on trips to Mackinac Bridge, the Island, and Shelbyville, Indiana, where they visited Arthurs Army buddy, Delbert. Letty retired from Mercy Hospital after 23 years as a caring and compassionate nurse. She and Arthur bought some property and their dream house on the Sable River in Freesoil. . After several years in there, however, they moved back to Muskegon, where they enjoyed doing yard work and relaxing on their 5-acre property. In her free time, Letty liked to keep busy, and enjoyed hobbies such as knitting, crocheting, baking, gardening, and bird watching (especially her hummingbirds). In Lettys mind, however, her biggest accomplishments by far were her children and grandchildren, and her happiest moments were those spent with family. Hardworking and spirited, compassionate and kind hearted, Letty was a devoted wife, a loving mother and grandmother, a skilled nurse, and a loyal friend. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by her many friends and family members. Mrs. Lastenia "Letty" Mercedes St. Amour died peacefully on August 16, 2013, at the age of 80. Lettys family includes her husband, Arthur; her sons, Brian (Lee Ann) St. Amour of Muskegon, Michael (Bonnie) St. Amour of Grand Rapids, MI, Patrick (Kathy) St. Amour of Muskegon, and Paul (Nancy) St. Amour of Muskegon; her daughters, Julie (Rick) Puffer of Muskegon and Susan Walker of Muskegon; 14 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; her brother Luis Lasso of Panama; and 3 sisters-in-law. She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers; and one sister. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 21, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, with Father Michael Olson officiating. Friends are invited to join the family for visitation on Wednesday, one hour prior to the service, at St. Michael's Catholic Church. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Harbor Hospice - Poppen House and Catholic Central High School. Please visit Lettys personal memory page at www.clockfuneralhome.com, where you can learn more about her life, share a favorite memory or photo, and sign the online guestbook.