Jeannette Y Solitro (Naour)

With grace and beauty that shone from within, Jeannette Naour Solitro was a warm and radiant light in the lives of those who were fortunate enough to know her. She was a shining example of kindness and compassion, and her solid work ethic was admired by many. Nothing brought Jeannette greater joy than surrounding herself with her friends and family. No one remained a stranger for long, and she welcomed anyone and everyone with arms wide open. Deeply missed, Jeannette will be forever remembered and cherished.

The early 1930s are remembered as a very tumultuous chapter in history for those living in the United States. The Great Depression cast a dark, heavy shadow over the country following the devastating stock market crash just a few years before. Families all across the nation had to pull together and find creative ways to try to thrive in their time of need. In the midst of such difficult years, however, there was much happiness to be found in the household of Henry and Gabrielle (Peyron) Naour of Detroit, Michigan, as they awaited the arrival of their firstborn child. It was on November 26 of 1932 that their daughter, Jeannette, was born.

Growing up, Jeannette was a typical girl of her generation in many ways. She was raised in the family home in Detroit alongside her four younger siblings, Suzette, Henry, John, and Gilbert. As the oldest of the Naour children, Jeannette loved her siblings fiercely. She was very close with her parents, and she truly looked up to her father. Jeannette graduated from Immaculata High School and began working with her father at General Motors and at his business, Central Type.

Above all else, Jeannette was deeply devoted to her family. She thrived in her role as a mother to Jeanne, Joseph, Paul, Pete, and Antoinette. She was dedicated to raising her children and over the years, she worked hard to provide for them, owning and operated bowling alleys in both Paw Paw and Tecumseh. She also had many hobbies that kept her busy in her free time, such as golfing and bowling. She really enjoyed traveling to different states to compete in tournaments with her friends on her bowling team.

Later in life, she was thrilled to become a grandmother and even a great-grandmother. Affectionately known as Dram, Jeannette adored her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and spent time with them as often as she could. She never missed an event or special occasion. Dram’s famous pepperoni bread was always a favorite of each and every one of the kids, and she would drop everything to make it if one of them requested it.

After retiring from running her own businesses, Jeannette moved to Kalamazoo and began working as a hostess, first at Chianti, and then at the Black Swan, letting her lively personality shine and growing close to many of her coworkers. She was a devoted parishioner at St. Monica Catholic Church.

With a lifetime that spanned nearly a century, Jeannette Naour Solitro exemplified what it meant to make the most of every moment. She was a constant source of strength, even in the most difficult of times, and she tackled every obstacle with unyielding determination. A beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Jeannette considered herself lucky to watch her family grow to include so many loved ones. Her heart of gold truly allowed her to be a servant to her family, friends, and community, and she was always willing to go above and beyond to care for others. Although she will be dearly missed, Jeannette leaves behind a priceless legacy that her loved ones can be proud to carry on in her footsteps.

Jeannette Naour Solitro of Kalamazoo, MI passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 14, 2025 at the age of 92. Jeannette was born on November 26, 1932 to the late Henry M. and Gabrielle Y. (Peyron) Naour in Detroit, Michigan. Jeannette was a devoted mother to: Jeanne (Michael) Clothier of Paw Paw, MI; Joseph (Pamela) Solitro of Laingsburg, MI; Paul Solitro of Chicago, IL; Pete (Michele) Solitro of Kalamazoo, MI; and Antoinette Tietema of Grand Rapids, MI. She was a cherished grandmother to: Nicole, Anthony, Natalie, Jon Paul, Jaime, Simonne, Sean, Madeline, Adrien, Evan, Ryan and Gabriel. She adored her many great grandchildren. Jeannette was preceded in death by her four younger siblings, Suzette (Harry) Pogats; Henry (Joan) Naour; John Naour; Gilbert (Lynetta) Naour and nephew, Gary Munnings.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Monica Catholic Church at 11am on Monday, September 29, 2025. Cremation has already taken place, with arrangements handled by Betzler Life Story Funeral Home in Kalamazoo, MI. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. www.BetzlerLifeStory.com