Lavina Cahape

Lavina Charlotte Cahape, age 92, passed away
at her home in Mackinaw City on February 9, 2017.

She was born on May 25, 1924
to Bertha and Orie Dykman Sr. in Grand Rapids.

A member of the U.S. Army Cadet Nurse Corps, she graduated from the
Hurley Hospital School of Nursing in Flint, MI as a registered nurse just
after World War II ended, In Flint, she met the love of her life, Thomas
Henry Cahape, whom she married in 1949. They lived in Pontiac and later
in Waterford, MI, where they raised four daughters. Lavina practiced
nursing for several years before and after her marriage, until their second
daughter was on the way. She kept up with her profession by faithfully
reading the “American Journal of Nursing.” She also provided lots of first
aid to neighborhood casualties who landed on her front porch. She
returned to nursing 12 years later and helped establish the first neonatal
intensive care unit at Pontiac General Hospital. She was also a labor
organizer and helped lead the formation of the first union of registered
nurses at the hospital. She loved her profession and was always proud to
have been a nurse. After retirement she and Tom moved to northern
Michigan where they spent many enjoyable years, first living on Rainy
Lake in Onaway and later on a farm next door to their daughter Peg and
her family in Afton. She spent her final years at Pinecrest Village in
Mackinaw City, where she made many friends and received wonderful
support and care by the staff. Lavina was a devoted wife and mother. She
was hugely proud of all her daughters’ accomplishments, small and large,
and was largely responsible for giving them the solid foundation of love
and security that later allowed them to make their way in the world, She
was also a devout Christian and loved her church family at Onaway
United Methodist Church, Her faith in God was a deep and sustaining
force in her life that grew stronger as she grew older,

She is survived by:
daughters, Patricia (Robin) Hammer, Margaret (Robert) Grimes,
Bonnie (Larry) Campbell, and Beth Cahape;
by seven grandchildren, Rae Sumihara, Charlotte Moellendick,
Carrie Rosingana, Thomas Campbell, Emily Frederick,
Henry Grimes, and Silas Grimes; and
by five great grandchildren, Kenzo Sumihara, Taizo Sumihara,
Eleanor Rosingana, Parker Frederick, and Gianna Frederick.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and
her brothers Eugene Dykman and Orie Dykman Jr.

A memorial service and celebration of her life will be held at Onaway
United Methodist Church on Monday, May 22 at llam, The family will
greet visitors beginning at 10am, A luncheon will follow the service
in the fellowship hall.