Leone ‘Lee’ Gosselin Mollica of Roscommon, died peacefully at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City on September 23 with her family at her side. She was 80
The second of four children, Lee was born December 11, 1936 in Detroit to Joseph Aime and Marie Yvonne Gervais Gosselin, transplanted French Canadians whose heritage she revered. A love of cars was another part of her DNA. She and her sisters would turn heads whenever they cruised down 5 Mile Road in her ’56 black Chevy convertible. She claimed that her tearful sale of that car to pay for her wedding dress was proof of her love for Richard Mollica, the man she married on June 27, 1959 at St. Francis de Sales Church. They settled in Royal Oak, near General Motors where Richard worked as a metallurgical engineer, and they raised two daughters and a son
Over her lifetime, she worked briefly in business and as an accountant, enjoyed playing tennis, but mostly put her natural social and organizing skills to work as an active volunteer in schools, the local library, and her church. In 1988 she fell into her greatest organizing challenge as GM prepared to relocate 2,000 workers and their families to Spring Hill, TN, the site of a the new Saturn manufacturing site. As the company worked for a smooth transition, Lee’ involvement and attention to logistical details quickly propelled her to head the Saturn Spouses Group, with a direct line to the president of Saturn
Her love of travel and the lure of the open road led Lee and any kin who were game on countless adventures across the United States and to French Canada and beyond. After retirement, Lee and Richard made their primary home at Higgins Lake, and spent the winter months in the Saddlebrooke community of Tucson, AZ. There she studied photography and pottery, to the delight of many who received her creations. She immersed herself in genealogy, both in investigating the Mollica and Gosselin family histories and helping others research their own. She was a founding member and president of the Saddlebrooke Genealogy Club. The focus of her life, however, was her greatest passions: family, friends, and faith. She prayed daily for so many dear to her; the expanding list was taped to her mirror. She served as a Eucharistic Minister in her church.
Her sisters Mariette Carleton and Camille Ranker Hathaway preceded Lee in death. In addition to her husband Richard, and brother, Laurent Gosselin (Barbara) of Washington, DC, she is survived by her children, Aimee Ziehm (David) of Rochester Hills, Greg Mollica of Atlanta, GA, and Jane Carlson (Eric) of Madison, WI; grandchildren, Leah and Eric Ziehm and Jacob and Camille Carlson; nieces and nephews; cousins in Quebec; and a large circle of treasured friends in Michigan and Arizona.
Visitation will take place on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 11, followed by the funeral service at noon at St. Hubert Catholic Church in Higgins Lake, with a celebration of life and private internment to follow at a later time. The family would appreciate donations in the name of Lee Mollica to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 13067, Alexandria, VA 22312, or to a charity of your choice.
Arrangements are by Walsh Funeral Home, Roscommon.
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Au Sable Media Group, LLC, is a veteran-owned company that owns and operates the Roscommon County Voice, Crawford County Voice, Michigan Boomers and Voice of the Au Sable.
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