The Ilitch family invites the public to share their memories before Mike Ilitch is laid to rest.
Late Sunday night, the Ilitch family announced times for a public viewing and memorial for anyone wishing to pay their respects.
A temporary memorial site will be located outside of Comerica Park under the Big Tiger, beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Monday, Feb. 13. Members of the community are invited to share their memories, and “memorial sentiments will be saved and shared with family.”
For those who wish to pay their respects beyond the memorial site, Mike Ilitch will lie in repose for a public visitation on Wednesday, Feb. 15, from 12 to 8 p.m., in the Grand Lobby of the Fox Theatre.
Free parking will be provided at the Fox Garage and surface lots in front of Comerica Park.
The Ilitch family released a statement, thanking the public for their support:
To everyone who has so graciously remembered Mike Ilitch, we extend a heartfelt thank you. The volume of condolences and kind wishes overwhelms us, and we appreciate it more than words can express. We know that he would’ve been touched by the outpouring of support, especially from this community that he so loved. We will miss him tremendously, and we are grateful, humbled and comforted to know that his lifetime was filled with well-lived moments.
Additional memorial opportunities and recognition events will be planned, including at Joe Louis Arena, the Lakeland Complex, and the Little Caesars Arena construction site.
The family will also hold a private ceremony sometime in the near future, at a date and time not released. The family also requests that donations be made to the Ilitch Charities, The Detroit Red Wings Foundation, or The Detroit Tigers Foundation in lieu of flowers.