Elaine Ann Schweihofer's Obituary
It is with deep love and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our mom, Elaine Ann Schweihofer. She was a woman whose laughter filled every room and whose spirit could lift even the heaviest of days. Elaine had a wonderful sense of humor—quick, warm, and genuine—and she shared it freely, bringing smiles and comfort to everyone around her.
Elaine was born on September 21, 1940, to Viola and Stanley Zweng in Marine City, MI. She attended Holy Cross Catholic Schools, where she met and married her high school sweetheart, Jim Schweihofer. They moved to St. Clair where they raised their four children.
After Elaine and Jim were married, they enjoyed an entrepreneurial life of hard work together. Elaine would ride along with Jim in a tandem dump truck they purchased, as the work on the I-75 Interstate was going on through Michigan. Over the years, they would buy an older house around Marine City and St. Clair. Elaine would remodel the inside, Jim the outside, and then they would rent it out. Elaine kept the books and oversaw tenants. The last house they lived in together in St. Clair, a new build, Elaine and Jim completed the majority on their own.
In the 1970’s, they owned a carwash in downtown St. Clair. Elaine kept the books and routinely visited the carwash for cleaning while Jim worked in Mt. Clemens.
In the early 1960’s, Elaine’s sister, Joyce and Bob Thompson were Standard Oil Company agents delivering gasoline and fuel oil to homes, farms, marinas, small gas stations, and construction sites in the Marine City area. In the early 1970’s, Jim took over the St. Clair Standard Oil Company route, and again Elaine was called in to keep the books.
Standard Oil sold the agencies to the agents in 1975, and Jim and Bob merged the two delivery routes to form Blue Water Oil Company. Elaine came through again keeping the books with Joyce while they worked out of Joyce and Bob’s Marine City home. In 1988, Blue Water Oil Company built a new office and warehouse facility in Marine City on the corner of King Road and 26 Mile Road. It was a period of growth with more trucks, employees, and quite a few convenience store gas stations. The first location being an old, closed Standard Oil location on Gratiot and Range Road in Marysville. Elaine worked in the office up to 2000, and in 2003, Blue Water Oil Company merged with Foster Oil Company to form Foster Blue Water Oil Company.
Elaine and Jim worked very hard to make all their efforts come to light. A very proud
achievement, as Foster Blue Water Oil Company today serves around 75 percent of the lower peninsula of Michigan.
Elaine loved life’s simple joys. Especially going out to dinner, where conversation, laughter, and togetherness meant everything to her. She also cherished the holidays, which were always filled with love and abundance. Elaine delighted in preparing and sharing lots of food, making sure no one ever left the table hungry. Christmas was especially dear to her heart, with trays of homemade cookies baked with love and shared with family and friends. Those holidays – full of food, gifts, laughter and time spent together – are memories we will treasure forever.
Her faith in God was a steady and guiding force in her life. It gave her strength, shaped her compassion and carried her through life’s challenges. She found comfort in prayer, especially in the Hail Mary, a reflection of her deep and enduring devotion.
Elaine is survived by her children Barbara Schweihofer, Jeff (Suzanne) Schweihofer, Stephanie (Jeff) Seacat, and Steve (Dawn) Schweihofer. Nine grandchildren Harrison (Alicia) Schweihofer, Zachary Schweihofer (Alison Patchel), Madison Schweihofer (Chris Campbell), Josh (Lindsey) Schweihofer, Andrew Schweihofer, Mara Schweihofer, Sydney Seacat, Jordyn Seacat, and Hunter Seacat.
She is also survived by the friends who became part of her extended family the past two years at Lakeshore Woods Senior Living Center. Living life to the absolute fullest with daily laughter and plenty of mischievous fun. We are forever grateful for the love and care provided by these friends and Accent Hospice Healthcare.
Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jim, with whom she is joyfully reunited, and siblings, Joyce Thompson, and Leroy Zweng.
Jesus assured us that … at that very moment when we cannot see her, He will be on a far distant shore rejoicing and announcing to all of Heaven, “Elaine is home. Time to celebrate!” Although she is no longer with us, her laughter and traditions live on in our memories. Elaine will be missed beyond words, but her memory and our love for her will be carried forever in our hearts.
A celebration of Elaine’s life will be held at Young Funeral Home on St. Clair Highway Sunday, May 3, from 1:00 - 7:00pm, with a rosary at 6:00pm. Mass will be celebrated at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Marine City on Monday, May 4, at 10:00 am with visitation at 9:30am.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: St. Clair Ecumenical Food and Assistance Program (formerly St. Vincent DePaul).
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