Antrim-Oakland County MI Archives Obituaries.....Relyea, Mary Catherine MacLean October 7, 2015 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Michelle Zeeman mzeeman83@gmail.com February 1, 2020, 10:24 pm Traverse City Record Eagle 10/11/15 In Memory of Mary Relyea August 28, 1918 - October 7, 2015 Mary Kay Relyea, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, died at home on October 7th. Her heart, after 97 years of loving life finally surrendered. She was surrounded by the love of her family. Born August 28, 1918 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, she was the first of Alexander MacLean and Emee DesRosiers five children. In 1924, the family emigrated to Trenton Michigan where she grew up with six elder half-siblings and four younger brothers and a sister. She attended St. Patrick's School; after which she accepted an office position with Crowley-Milner in Detroit. In 1939, a visit to her sister in Rochester turned into a life changing event when she met the dashing young man who was to be her husband for over 75 years. Together they shared a life of entrepreneurial adventure, starting out in home building (Rochester), motel ownership (Clearwater Beach, Florida), and finance (Long Beach California). They returned to Rochester in the mid 60's where Mary enjoyed working in a new field as a medical secretary. In 1975, they began a 40 year retirement in the Torch Lake area. They enjoyed remodeling homes on the lake and the Bay, socializing with friends and traveling each winter. When autumn waned, Mary was known for packing the car heavily and heading south to escape the dreaded snow. Even after becoming an American citizen in 1947, Mary cherished her Canadian-Scottish heritage, making many trips 'down home' to Cape Breton Island. She never heard a pipe and fiddle she didn't love, and like fellow Nova Scotians, enjoyed chatting and sharing stories. She had a special knack for remembering birthdays and anniversaries with a greeting card. Without fail. Mary loved people and was in turn loved by all who knew her. She is remembered for her fun loving, amazingly determined personality, and for the deep love she had for her family. Even as her vision decreased in recent years, she remained independent, working hard to recover from a major stroke in August 2014, which impacted her ability to speak, but not her indomitable spirit or love of people. A devout Catholic, she was active at Sacred Heart parish until her vision diminished in recent years. Her absence is keenly felt by her beloved husband, Oliver, three daughters: Donna (Richard) Immel of Moraga, California, Ann (William) Pier of Loveland, Ohio and Michelle (Berry) Zeeman of Alden, 4 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, a younger sister and brother, many nieces and nephews and two grand-dogs. Mass from the Order of Christian Funerals will be celebrated at 11 a.m.; visitation 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 15, 2015 at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Elk Rapids, with Rev. Robert J. Zuchowski presiding. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions made to Munson Hospice or Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church Food Pantry in Mary's name are appreciated. Mass from the Order fo Christian Funerals Thursday, October 15, 2015 | 11:00 a.m. Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church 143 Charles Street, Elk Rapids, Michigan 49629 | (231) 264-8087 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/antrim/obits/r/relyea34837nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 3.7 Kb