Ila Marie Sommer

July 13, 1933 - December 15, 2020

Ila Marie Sommer, a loving mother and friend to many, died Tuesday, December 15, 2020 in Charlotte. Ila, 87, of Charlotte, was born July 13, 1933 in Lansing, the daughter of Ralph John and Anna Barbara (Helmkamp) Lobert. She graduated from St. Mary High School in Lansing in 1951 before marrying James Jones and settling into family life as a homemaker. Once their children had grown, Ila worked as a nurses aid at the St. Lawrence Dimondale Center before transitioning into several years as a teacher’s aide at the Beekman School in Lansing. Throughout the years, she was a member of the Red Hat Society, the Potterville VFW, volunteered at hospice, and was a life member of the Eaton Area Senior Center. Ila was a faith-filled woman, serving in the guild at St. Gerard Church in her early years. Later, she devoted many hours in service to her parish at St. Casimir Catholic Church. She was a woman of excellent taste, exhibiting a knack for interior design, and always kept the house spotless. Her love of arts and crafts led her to create many beautiful pieces for her friends and family. She was a skilled baker, especially with making pies, and enjoyed canning, gardening, and sewing. Above all, she loved her family. Ila is survived by her children, Pam Burns, Steve (Nina) Jones, James (Noredine) Jones, Liz (David) Tabor, and Michelle (Tim) Jones; step-children, Patty Heinze, Suellen Spicknell, and Margaret Harris; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; brother, Roger (Janice) Lobert; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by two husbands, James Jones and Edward Sommer; daughters, Peggy Gabrielle Labelle and Penny Jo Jones; grandsons, Matt DeWaters, Chad Music, Tim Music, David Music, and Trevor Heinze; and four siblings, Mary Cole, Wayne Lobert, Ronnie Lobert, and John “Dale” Lobert. A Funeral Mass of Celebration will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 19, 2020 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlotte with Rev. Fr. Dwight Ezop officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the mass, at the church. Mask, group capacity, and distancing guidelines will be observed. The funeral will also be webcast so you may watch it from any computer, smartphone, or mobile device that has internet access. Go to www.prayfuneral.com, click on Ila’s tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone). Just prior to the beginning of the service, a link will appear on this page to watch the webcast. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at www.michaeljfox.org. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Ila on her Tribute Page at www.PrayFuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte. Ila will be deeply missed by her loving family. The family finds comfort in knowing she is on a special cloud, designed with colorful pinks, making the ultimate dessert to send through the sky along with the whisper of love to get them by. “Love you!”