Delora Ann Pierce

Delora Ann Pierce, a cherished resident of Clawson, Michigan, since May 1974, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in June 2023 and passed away peacefully on September 24, 2025, at Courtyard Manor of Farmington Hills surrounded by her loving family.
Delora was born on February 19, 1949, at Providence Hospital in Detroit to her loving parents, Delbert and Catherine Cooper. She grew up in Royal Oak and graduated from Shrine High School in 1967. From a young age, Delora radiated kindness, patience, and a gentle strength that would define her throughout her life.
Delora was more than a devoted mother-she was a second mom to many. Her warm smile, calm presence, and listening heart made her home a refuge for friends and neighbors alike. She was the type of person who made you feel better just by being in her presence. She hugged and truly loved every person she ever met and never knew a stranger. Her daughter Stacy often referred to her as "human sunshine".
A dedicated stay-at-home mom during her children's early years, Delora poured her heart into raising her daughters. She was actively involved in her community, dedicating her time and energy to the PTA and the Clawson City Planning Commission. Her spirit of service extended into every part of her life.
As her daughters grew, Delora reentered the workforce in the dental field, where she worked for over 36 years-for the last 25+ years as the friendly receptionist at Hunter & Hosea DDS in Clawson. She loved her job of greeting patients into the office with her beautiful smile and a genuine love to see (and likely hug) every person that walked in. She would often refer to patients as her friends and reveled running into many of them at Meijer and other area stores. She retired in September 2016, but her love for people brought her back into the community as a friendly greeter at Meijer in Royal Oak, where she delighted in reconnecting with old friends and making new ones.
Delora was a member of Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Clawson, where she found strength in faith and the friendships she developed over the 40+ years there. She was a very devout Christian her entire life and especially enjoyed listening to the sermons Father Tony gave.
She is survived by her beloved daughters, Stacy Hunter-Womer and Nicole (William) Hunter; her treasured grandsons, Brandan (Alycia), Logan, and Nathan; her cherished granddaughter, Jade; and her loving brothers, Gary (Bill Fanning) Cooper, Chris (Theresa) Cooper, and Tom (Susan) Cooper. Delora is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Patricia Lafferty, and Patience Panski, Marisia (Vince) Pica; brother-in-law Robert (Linda) Pierce; and a loving abundance of nieces, nephews, and friends whom she treasured dearly.
Delora was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Franklin Pierce, whom she met while they participated as Toy Soldiers protecting Santa in the Hudson's Thanksgiving Day Parade in November 1967. They were both employed by JL Hudson's, Delora at the Budget Store in Madison Heights and Richard at the Detroit Warehouse. They married on June 6, 1968, in Royal Oak. The two shared a lifetime of love and partnership. Richard passed away on January 5, 2017. Delora is now free of the Alzheimer's disease and reunited with Richard in heaven, alongside their lifetime best friends, Frank and Barbara Neff oh what a reunion that must have been. ________________________________________ A memorial gathering will take place on Sunday, October 26, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Gramer Funeral Home, 705 North Main Street (between 14 Mile and Maple), Clawson, MI 48017. A Memorial Mass will be held at 12:00 PM, in-state at 11:30 AM, on Monday, October 27, 2025 at Guardian Angels Catholic Church, 581 E. 14 Mile Road, Clawson, MI 48017. Delora and Richard will be laid to rest together at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan during a private service. ________________________________________ In honor of Delora's legacy of love and caring, memorial donations may be made to Courtyard Manor of Farmington Hills Activity Fund, whose wonderful staff provided guidance and compassion to Delora and her family, until her very last breath. Or to Heart to Heart Hospice whose staff helped to guide Delora during her final days with grace. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Delora, please visit our floral store.