Lucille Josephine (Usarski) Dennis peacefully passed away on June 4, 2026 after being surrounded by family, music and love for several weeks.

Lucy was born to John and Cecile Usarski on November 8, 1925 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She lived in the Michigan and Fuller area. From a young age she loved reading and spent many Saturdays at the Grand Rapids Public Library where her dad would drop her off on his way to work. On his way home, he would pick her up and give her a Tootsie Pop to enjoy on their walk. That led to the nickname her dad gave her: "Tootsie".

Lucy attended St. Isadore's Catholic School and graduated from Grand Rapids Central High School in 1942. After graduation, Lucy worked at the cosmetics counter of Wurzburg's Department Store in downtown Grand Rapids.

Lucy loved music. She spent many years taking piano lessons and was a talented pianist. One of her favorite things to do was play songs from the Great American Songbook with her grandchildren singing along. Lucy also loved to sing herself. She sang in the Sweet Adelines, in church choirs and in community choirs in Michigan and in Florida. These choirs offered Lucy the opportunity to travel internationally to share the universal language of music with people throughout Europe. She even had the opportunity to sing for the Pope on one of her trips.

Lucy married John Ross Wease and was blessed with three children: Diane, Patti and David. Lucy was a talented cook, hostess and crafter. She always made holidays and birthdays special and memorable. They lived on Ridgewood Avenue where Lucy's mother cared for the children while Lucy worked outside the home.

After her first marriage ended, Lucy met and married Lloyd Dennis of Ludington, Michigan. She moved to Ludington and for the first time in her life, became a full-time homemaker. Lucy filled her time knitting, quilting, cross-country skiing, going to the beach, volunteering at the hospital, taking hikes at Ludington State Park, and creating a cozy, beautiful home for her and Lloyd. She especially loved making sure the cookie jar was always full of his favorite cookies. In their later years, Lucy and Lloyd lived in Dunedin, Florida where they had many friends and were active in their community. They spent the milder seasons residing in Traverse City where Lucy enjoyed walking along the Grand Traverse Bay, volunteering at the National Cherry Festival and cheering her great grandchildren on at sporting events and musical performances.

Lloyd and Lucy hosted many multigenerational family gatherings for Thanksgiving, Christmas and the 4th of July. She truly enjoyed time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. On November 8, 2025, Lucy celebrated her 100th birthday with four generations of family members present.

Lucy was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 40 years, Lloyd, in 2011, her loving son, David Wease, in 2007, her sweet sister-in-law, Helen Stockwell, in 2006, and her sister Elaine Frances Bostelaar in 2020. Lucy will be remembered and missed by her children Diane (Maurie) Dennis, and Patti Mumaw, grandchildren: Laura (Tom) Avolio, Maurie (Tara) Dennis, Amy (Luke) Reneaud, Sara (Ryan) Parker, Rachael (Travis) Koopmans, Steven Mumaw (Huong Nguyen), and Josh (Christina) Wease,

Chris (Jim) Grose, great grandchildren Caroline (Will) and Annabelle Avolio, Trey, Beckett and Colette Dennis, Gab and Andrew Surprenant, Callie Reneaud, Cameron and Reagan Parker, Jacob and Paige Koopmans, Lilly and Kendra Mumaw, Kayven Nguyen Mumaw, Emma and Avi Wease.

A memorial service for friends and family will be held in the mausoleum at Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery (2894 Patterson Ave SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49512) at 12:00 Noon on Monday, July 20, 2026.

A private family memorial service will be held in Ludington at a later date.