Theresa Margaret Lietaert
Theresa Margaret Lietaert, known to everyone as “Tess,” of Onaway, died at Corewell Health Big Rapids Hospital Sunday, July 13, 2025, after a long and beautiful life. She was 101 years old.
The daughter of Julien and Bertha (Louria) Lietaert, Tess was born in Tower November 2, 1923. A lifelong resident of the Onaway area, she graduated from Onaway High School and went on to County Normal to get her teaching certificate. Tess taught for a time at the Glawe School in Ocqueoc before beginning her career with the Michigan State Home Extension office serving Presque Isle County. With her job, she became quite involved with 4-H programs giving her the opportunity to meet many people throughout the county.
Tess enjoyed traveling with her “besties,” Sis Ellenberger and Belle Amyotte. Many of their travels included touring shrines throughout North America. They visited Alaska, Hawaii, Newfoundland and New Orleans. Tess was an excellent gardener, enjoyed knitting and took up whittling and carving after retirement. She loved square dancing and even belonged to a square dancing club in Cheboygan. Her family’s heritage was very important to Tess. She researched her genealogy and preserved family memories with hundreds of hours of home movies. Content with life’s simple pleasures, Tess loved going for rides in the country, fishing with her nieces, and watching the deer in her yard and in the fields around her home. With a tender place in her heart for dogs, Tess always had a four-legged companion to keep her company.
Devoted to her Catholic faith, Tess was a longtime parishioner of St. Paul Catholic Church in Onaway and a former member of the Altar Society. She found peace and comfort in praying the rosary and did so faithfully every day. And though she never had any children, Tess loved her nieces as if they were her own daughters. She enjoyed a close relationship with each of them and tr
Tess leaves three nieces, Carole Draysey of Big Rapids, Susan Dyer of East Moline, Illinois and Donna Draysey of Collierville, Tennessee; her great-niece, Danielle Lance; great-nephew, Jon Thorstenson; as well as four great-great-nieces and nephews; and three great-great-great nephews; and her faithful companion, Meg. She was preceded in death by her sister, Beatrice (Donald) Draysey; her parents; and best friends, Sis Ellenberger and Belle Amyotte.
Funeral services were held at St. Paul Catholic Church last week. Tess was laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery in Onaway. Those planning an expression of sympathy please consider a contribution in memory of Tess to Corewell Health and Hospice Palliative Care of West Michigan, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, MI 49085 or St. Paul Catholic Church, 20811 Washington Ave., Onaway, MI 49765.
