Rhea June Boucher, age 97, passed away on January 16, 2021 at Bay County Medical Care Facility. She was born on June 5, 1923 to the late Earl and Helen Howard in Detroit, Michigan. Her husband of 60 years Albert Boucher and her brother William, both of whom were WWII veterans, preceded her in death.
She worked for Consumer's Power Company for 30 years and enjoyed the many friendships made while working. After retiring, she enjoyed doing anything as long as she did it with her husband Al. They had great fun with five other couples who called themselves the "The Dirty Dozen".
They especially liked travelling, dancing and playing cards. In later years they enjoyed a second home in Florida, next to Al's brother Gerald and his wife Naomi. Every October the foursome escaped the cold and became "snowbirds" in Florida and made more lasting friendships, some that endure to this day. It was her family and those friendships that have seen her survive the last 17 years of life without the husband she loved from their first meeting.
Rhea was caretaker for her Mother, her Aunt and her Husband in the last years of their lives. A great lover of animals, she was able to live out most of her final days on the Kawkawlin River with her much-adored dog Muffin.
Rhea is survived by son, William A. Boucher and by daughter, Cheryl (Omer) Lozo;
grandchildren, Nicole Lozo (Albert), Nicholas (Seidy) Lozo, Matthew Boucher, Joshua (Lexy) Boucher, Jeremy (Lara) Polzin and Shaun Boucher; eight great grandchildren; three nephews, James (Jeanne) Boucher, Randy (Mary) Boucher and Jeff Boucher and one niece, Geralyn (Tom) Angelico.
The family will be having a private memorial graveside as requested by Rhea. She requests each of you remember her in your own way and know that she looked forward to the day she could reunite with her beloved husband and family.
Her family is very grateful to Rhea's many caretakers:
Dr. Shyam Dandamudi, her personal physician for many years
The staff at Charter Sr. Living who cared for her and Muffin, her dog of 14 years
The staff at McLaren Hospital
The staff at Bay County Medical Care Facility who provided compassionate care in her final days
Gregory Planck and all the Hospice staff for providing needed counseling, lifting burdens and coordinating care.