Dorothy B. (Michaud) Michaud, 88, of Marblehead, died on the 24th of August, 2008, at home surrounded by her loving family, after suffering a series of strokes. She was the wife of the late Commander J. Alex Michaud, and daughter of the late Eudger ‘Mike’ and Marie (Daigle) Michaud. She was born and raised in Salem and lived in Beverly for 32 years, before moving to Marblehead 12 years ago.
Dorothy was a graduate of Ste. Chretienne Academy in Salem and Hawthorne Institute Secretarial School. She worked at the Sylvania Plant, in Salem, as an office manager, prior to leaving the working field to become a homemaker and raising her 8 children. At the conclusion of W.W. II, in 1946, She moved to the Philippine Islands, to assist her husband Alex, stationed in the Philippines while he served in the Navy as the then Commander of Motor Torpedo Boat Squadrons, Philippine Sea Frontier and later Director of the Foreign Liquidations for the Far East. She and her husband returned to the United Stated from the Philippines via an around the world cruise in 1948. While on the cruise, she and her husband attended a Papal Canonization of a saint in Rome. They were fortunate to be seated in the front row with the cardinals in St. Peter’s Basilica, as part of their Rome port visit.
Dorothy moved back to Salem in 1948, when her husband Alex left the Navy and bought out her late father’s business, Michaud Bus Lines. After growing up in the business, and seeing her father ‘Mike’ work long hours, she often was quoted as saying “I never wanted to marry a businessman and especially a businessman in the bus business”. She was very happy to be married to a former Salem school teacher, who then became a Naval Officer at the outbreak of W.W. II. Once Alex bought the business from his mother-in-law, Marie Michaud, Dorothy found herself married to a businessman in the bus industry.
Dorothy was a devoted wife and mother to her loving family. She often said that she could not have a better job. She was a very involved Mom with all her 8 children. When the family vacationed on their yacht ‘JAMIBUSPIBIGAGICYNJORIC’, often the children were allowed to each take a friend and Dorothy would then become the mother of 12 or more kids, for the two week cruises. She had a special place in her heart for her youngest son, Eric, who lived with her and together they were involved in the Massachusetts Special Olympics and the North Shore Assoc. of Retarded Citizens.
Dorothy and Alex truly enjoyed sharing their blessings and were active in many philanthropic endeavors. Over the last 25 years the couple enjoyed taking day trips “7 day a week” throughout New England and to have lunch and reminisce. They would begin their day with a kiss at the very spot where they kissed for the first time in 1939.
Theirs was truly a ‘Love Story’.
Mrs. Michaud is survived by her 8 children: Jay Michaud and his wife Susan of Marblehead, J.R. Spike Michaud and his wife Mary of Seabrook, NH, B.P. Biff Michaud and his wife Gail of Marblehead, Gale Bierman and her husband Mike of Bermuda, B.K. Gig Michaud of Beverly, Cindy Michaud and her husband Dayton of Arizona, Joy Wing and her husband Paul of Newbury and Eric Michaud of Marblehead. She is also survived by 19 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren. She is sister of Theresa Gosslin, Gloria Perron, Geraldine Sharp, Marilyn Corbeil, Ronald Michaud and Norman Michaud. She was sister of the late Dr. Gerard Michaud and Louis ‘Babe’ Michaud and grandmother of the late Phoebe Wing and great-grandmother of the late Nathaniel Michaud.
Her funeral will be on Friday, September 5, 2008 at 10 am in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Atlantic Ave., Marblehead, Visiting hours will be at the Levesque Funeral Home, 163 Lafayette St., [Route 114 / 1-A] Salem on Thursday, September 4th from 4 to 8 pm. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, Salem. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B102, Danvers, MA 01923. For additional information please visit www.levesquefunerals.com