Kay Merlo

Kay Louise Merlo, of Port Washington, died Tuesday, Aug. 28. She was 71.

Mrs. Merlo was born in Manistique, Mich., on July 27, 1947, daughter of Lauritz Hough and Patricia Curran Hough. 

She grew up in Manistique, graduating from Manistique High School in 1965. After high school, she attended college at both St. Joseph’s Nursing School in Hancock, Mich., and Grace School of Nursing in Detroit.

She met Michael Merlo while in school.

They married in Detroit on March 5, 1971. Mr. Merlo died in 1988.

After his death, Mrs. Merlo moved to Gladstone, Mich., and worked as a nurse in the Gladstone area until 2004, when she moved to New York to work as a traveling nurse.  

Mrs. Merlo was a free-spirited thrill seeker and very independent, her family said.

She enjoyed making jewelry, reading, traveling, but especially loved spending time with her grandchildren.

She was a member of All Saints Catholic Church in Gladstone.

Her faith was very important to her and she  had a passion for teaching her family and others about God’s word.

Mrs. Merlo firmly believed a strong faith in God will help a person get through tough times and that God has a plan for everyone.

She is survived by her children, Michael of Kalamazoo, Mich., Matthew (Shannon) of Port Washington, Angela Merlo of Fenton, Mich., and Peter (Stephanie) of Grand Forks, N.D.; grandchildren Karley, Matthew, Lillian, Maxwell, Michael and Vincent; her mother Patricia Hough of Manitowoc, and sister Annmarie (Randy) Ahola Sohlden, of Manitowoc. She was preceded in death by her husband, her father, her sister Kim Marie Hough, and father- and mother-in-law Vincent and Rose Merlo.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Saturday, Sept. 1, at All Saints Catholic Church in Gladstone. Father Jamie Ziminski presided.

She was buried next to her husband in Lakeview Cemetery in Manistique.

The Eernisse Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.