Lara Michelle Rutan, 25, of Grosse Pointe Farms, died suddenly on Friday, Sept 16, 2005, in an auto-related accident. She died at St. Joseph Mercy West Hospital in Clinton Township.

She graduated summa cum laude with a four-year perfect attendance pin in 1998 from Regina High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and a student body class representative for four years.

She earned a bachelor of science degree in biology in 2002 from DePauw University. As a member of Indiana Epsilon Chapter of Pi Beta Phi, she held numerous positions, including internal social director, recruitment chair, pledge mom, and vice president of social advancement. During her sophomore year, she was a dormitory resident advisor and, in her junior and senior years, she was an academic mentor to incoming freshmen.

In 2005, she earned a master of science physical assistant-c degree from Wayne State University's School of Health and Applied Sciences where she was class president.

She was a people-person who enjoyed making others feel good about themselves. She was an advisor in all her educational experiences and various employment endeavors, from her jobs at Leon's Hair Salon, The Hill Seafood and Chop House, and The Pointe Pedlar to interning with area physicians and hospitals.

She was employed as a physician's assistant at Eastside Cardiovascular Medicine in Roseville.

She is survived by her parents, Judy and Rick Rutan; her brother, Nick (Rachel; her grandparents, Connie and Bill Geis; her fiancé, Michael W. Connery, and his son, Shane; and her aunts and uncles, Karen Geis, Regina and Don Geis, Betsy and Mark Geis, Pam and Kurt Geis, Mary Ellen Rutan, Kathy Dean, Michael Rutan, Michelle Rutan (Norman Grosse), and Jeanne and David Murray.

She was predeceased by her grandparents, Gloria and "Chick" Rutan.

A funeral Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, Sept 21, at St. Paul Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Farms. Interment is at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lara Rutan Memorial Fund for scholarships at Wayne State University, c/o Maggie Katz, 259 Mack Ave., Detroit, MI 48201. Mach checks payable to Wayne State University, notating "In memory of Lara Rutan." Other memorial contributions may be made to the Michigan Humane Society, St. Paul Educational Trust Fund, Regina High School Scholarship Fund, or Indiana Epsilon Chapter of Pi Beta Phi.