Lynora Abramson

Lynora Mary Abramson (née Stiverson)
February 6, 1935 - June 7, 2025
Lynora Mary Abramson, of Bloomfield Hills, passed away peacefully on June 7, 2025, at the age of 90. Born in Detroit on February 6, 1935, she was the daughter of Lloyd and Nora Stiverson and grew up in Berkley and Pleasant Ridge alongside her siblings and cousins. She is predeceased by her husband, Dave, her parents, sister, Kathleen Stiverson, and brother, Lloyd Stiverson.
Her childhood was filled with neighborhood softball games, imaginative play, and music-memories made more vivid by the visits of Fr. Solanus Casey, who would play his violin in their family home. One of Lynora's most profound personal memories was helping to care for her sister, Kathleen, during her illness in 1947-a loss that left a permanent mark. She spoke to Kathleen in prayer every day of her life.
Lynora attended both Shrine and St. Mary's High Schools in Royal Oak, where she excelled academically. She was awarded a full scholarship to Siena Heights College, which she attended for a year before returning home to help support her family. During these years, she cared tenderly for her mother during an illness.
A lifelong and devout Catholic, Lynora was deeply committed to her faith and her country. In her early adulthood, she was active in Quin 6, a Catholic young adults' group near the University of Detroit. Her professional life was varied and notable: she worked for Fr. Charles Coughlin at Shrine, served as a lobbyist in Washington D.C., and was involved with the campaigns of Barry Goldwater and Richard Nixon. She wrote political articles for small publications and never hesitated to share her convictions.
Lynora married Dave Abramson in 1966, and together they built a life rooted in family, faith, and community. Her life was marked by love and service. She was a Brownie leader, a Picture Lady, a dedicated member of the St. Regis Altar Society, and active in nearly every women's group at St. Regis Parish. When a new event was being put together at St. Regis, such as the Paschal Dinner, it was common for the pastor, Fr. Murphy, to say, "We should call Lynora for this, she'll know how to handle it." The Christmas luminaria that are now ubiquitous in the Birmingham-Bloomfield area, were first seen in the 1970s at the St. Regis rectory thanks to Lynora.
Her children and grandchildren were her greatest joy, and she delighted in their accomplishments, their company, and their laughter. Summers at Echo Park and Woodside swim clubs and motor home trips to the Outer Banks and Virginia Beach were treasured family traditions.
Lynora loved cooking, baking, watching sports-especially baseball-and reading. She learned something new every day. She had a fondness for comedies, musicals, history films, and religious movies, with The Sound of Music topping her favorites list. She loved to laugh and enjoyed all types of music, with a special affinity for Neil Diamond, whom she saw in concert many times.
An engaging conversationalist, Lynora made new friends everywhere she went and maintained friendships that went back to her youth.
Faithful, spirited, and deeply devoted to her family, Lynora lived a full and textured life. In her own words:
"I loved my life. I had a lot of happiness and a lot of sadness, and I loved all of it. I wouldn't change a thing."
Lynora was Mom to Joe (Ginny), Molly Sawarynski (Phil), Katye Winter (Tim), and Lloyd (Adrienne). She was Nana to Charlotte and Nora Sawarynski, Henry, Olive, and Lloyd Winter, and June, Jolee, and Gwen Abramson. She is also survived by sisters Mary Young and Anne Marie Kowalski, step-grandson Brandon Byrne, brother-in-law Paul Young, sister-in-law Mary Anne Stiverson, many nieces and nephews, and countless friends.
She will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered.
Visitation for Lynora will be held on Thursday, June 19 from 2 - 8 p.m. (Prayer Service and Sharing of Memories at 6:30 p.m.) at Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Directors, 705 W. Eleven Mile Rd. (four blocks east of Woodward), Royal Oak. The Funeral Mass for Lynora will be celebrated on Friday, June 20 at 10:00 a.m. (visitation 9:30 a.m.) at National Shrine of the Little Flower Basilica, 2100 Twelve Mile Rd., Royal Oak. Interment will take place at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield.
Memorial contributions in honor of Lynora can be directed to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen (www.cskdetroit.org/ways_to_give/donations), Monastery of the Blessed Sacrament (www.opnuns-fh.org/giving), or Angela Hospice (www.angelahospice.org/donate).