Marianne Lacava Fightlin, 88, of Duluth left us to be with her all-merciful Savior, from her Ecumen Memory Care condo late in the morning of November 12, 2022. She had suffered bravely for several years from dementia. Her going was peaceful and she was surrounded by her family. She was born to the late Prosper Lacava and Ann Lacava of New Britain, CT on October 28, 1934. She was a graduate of the UConn School of Nursing and did a fifth year at Yale-New Haven Hospital. She held numerous administrative positions including Director of Nursing, director of a visiting nurse association and, toward the end of her career, a parish nurse. Throughout her career and even in retirement, she was a stout advocate of patients, at times putting her job in jeopardy. She loved cooking and had the gift of hospitality and was always ready to welcome visitors. She called everybody “honey”. Her Italian cooking was famous. In retirement, she continued her life-long interest in politics, avidly following
Phyllis E. McLeod
Phyllis Elaine McLeod, age 88, of Detroit Lakes, MN, passed away December 26, 2020 of complications related to Alzheimer’s Disease. Phyllis was born to Parnell and Evelyn Smeby in Fargo, ND on March 17, 1932. She attended Oak Grove Lutheran High School where she became an accomplished pianist and graduated at the age of seventeen with the class of 1949. She graduated from Moorhead State (Teachers College) University in 1950 with an Associate Degree in Education, later returning in 1972 to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. Phyllis started her teaching career in Detroit Lakes where she met Elton “Sonny” McLeod. They were married in Hickson, ND on August 17, 1952. They lived in Hibbing, MN for a few years before settling in Detroit Lakes to raise their family. Phyllis enjoyed a long career in teaching and assumed she would put her career on hold when she and Sonny started their family, but each time she tried to quit, the school wo