Pauline B. Nordquist

Pauline Nordquist, age 90, of Cedarville, Michigan, passed away peacefully ending a one year battle with cancer, at the Ball Hospice House of the EUP in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, on July 16, 2023. She was born on April 5, 1933, in Sault Ste. Marie to Patrick Sr. and Mildred (Moore) Griffin.
Pauline grew up in Sault Ste. Marie where she lived with her family until her father, who served in the Coast Guard, was transferred to San Francisco, California. She lived in San Francisco until the age of 15 and remembered the area with great fondness. She enjoyed swimming at the local school pool, and the countless visits to the city's Fisherman Wharf and Chinatown shopping areas. At the age of 15, Pauline and her family returned to Michigan after her father's retirement at the close of World War II. In 1948, a time before expressways, she recalled the move across the U.S. as a challenging, but exciting adventure where she and her siblings occupied their father's home-made trailer, while Mom and Dad towed them over mountain passes, through wooded terrain, and across the Mississippi River, as they ventured to the Midwest on their return to Cedarville.
Pauline was a proud graduate of the Cedarville High School class of 1951. During her 3 years at CHS, Pauline met her future husband, Ronald, as they shared classroom time, school dances, and sporting events. Shortly after graduation, she and Ronald married in St. Ignace, Michigan and enjoyed a 62 year marriage until Ronald's passing in 2014.
While Pauline described herself as a Child of Christ, wife, mother, daughter, sister, and an aunt, she considered her role as a homemaker and mother to her two sons as her most cherished life purpose. In addition to caring for her immediate family, Pauline cherished her time caring for her late mother (Mildred Griffin) during her later years, as well as her beloved late in-laws, Olaf (Al) and Hilda (Weston) Nordquist, all of Cedarville.
Pauline enjoyed traveling with her husband Ronald, visiting the Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park, Little Big Horn, Mt. Rushmore, and other interesting areas. In her younger years, Pauline was a wonderful holiday host where she used her talents as a cook and baker to entertain a family made mostly of men and boys. She loved to dance, and it was she who taught her own boys how to ride bicycles and play baseball as young children. In her senior years, Pauline enjoyed her daily dive into "Word Search" puzzles, and watching old time movies and shows from the 1960's on the television.
Pauline is survived by her sons, Paul Nordquist of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Steven (Jeanne) Nordquist of Mason, Michigan; grandchildren, Gillian (Christopher) Roman of Middleton, Delaware, Eric (Katherine) Nordquist of Annapolis, Maryland, Oliva Nordquist of Brooklyn, New York, Guntter Nordquist of Rockford, Michigan, William (Nichole) Perkins of Potterville, Michigan, Anthony (Autumn) Perkins of St. Johns, Michigan, Lindsay (Joel) Parks of Lansing, Michigan, and Michael (Autumn) Perkins of Portland, Michigan. In addition to the seven grandchildren, Pauline was blessed with 18 great-grandchildren. Pauline was the loving aunt to many nieces and nephews spread across the entire United States, and into Ontario, Canada, including David (Deb) St. Onge, Pamela (St. Onge) Paquin, Paul (Dawn) Griffin, Alan Griffin, Laurie (Louis) Mazzuca, Rainell Nordquist, Margie Ann (Smith) Ozanich, and Kathy (Smith) Willett. As Pauline's health declined, she was cared for on a regular basis by nieces, Rainell, Deb, Margie Ann, and Kathy. She thought of Rainell as her "Guardian Angel" here on earth, and Deb, Margie Ann, Kathy, Pamela, and Laurie, as her adopted daughters. Pauline also enjoyed her close relationship with her niece, Nellie (Smith) Santinga of Brandy Station, Virginia. She credits Nellie with bringing her closer to Christ and as her faith mentor and loving niece.
In addition to direct family members, Pauline was blessed with lifetime and loving friendships with Margaret Tassier and Bertha Carr of Cedarville, and Joyce (LeMay) Lamoreaux (formally Cedarville) of Washington Township, Michigan. Pauline loved each dearly and was grateful for their many hours together in laughter and in true friendship.
Pauline will be interred with Ronald at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, Michigan. At Pauline's request there will be no memorial service for her individually. As the last surviving child of the Patrick and Mildred Griffin family, however, her sons are in the early planning stages for a future Family Celebration in Cedarville as a way to reunite and celebrate the entire generation of incredible aunts and uncles that blessed this entire family.
Galer Funeral Homes of Pickford, Michigan, is serving the family. Condolences may be left to the family at www.galerfuneralhomes.com.
Obituary as submitted by family.