Madelyn L. Hanslits' Obituary
Madelyn L. Hanslits, age 78, passed away peacefully Tuesday, August 9, 2022, at home. She was born on December 30, 1943, to Henry and Frances (Novak) Sliwinski in Muskegon, MI. She graduated from Muskegon Catholic Central high school class of 1961. She continued her education at Nazareth College in Kalamazoo, where she earned her bachelor’s degree. Madelyn dedicated many years to Muskegon Community College, in both the registrar office and English department, as a secretary. She married Raymond Hanslits, the love of her life, on December 24, 1966 after a whirlwind romance starting in Rome. Together they cherished 55 years full of love, laughter and many adventures. She was a faithful servant of Our Lord and a long-time member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Madelyn was known as a friendly face in her community. She had a passion for being involved and volunteering her time to numerous non-profit organizations. She was a member of the Red Hat Society for many years. Madelyn was an avid Notre Dame fan and loved rooting for the “Fighting Irish”, so much so that we joked she was Warsaw Irish. She loved lighthouses and had a special love of Basset Hounds, of which she had many starting way back in 1979. She was a voracious reader and socializer. Madelyn was known and loved by so many in her community. She had a personality that could fill a room with laughter and the ability to make any stranger a friend. Her strong-willed and tender loving spirit will genuinely be missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her loving husband, Ray Hanslits; 3 children, Christopher (Kerry) Hanslits, Patrick (Cathleen) Hanslits and Judith (Robert) Robbins; 4 grandchildren, Annalea, Samuel, Joshua and Ethan; brother, Rev. Fr. Phil Sliwinski; and sister-in-law, Meg Sliwinski. She was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, Mark Sliwinski. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00AM on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 150 E. Summit Ave., Muskegon Heights, MI 49444 with visitation one-hour prior. A visitation will be held from 6-8:00PM on Monday, August 15, 2022, at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 S. Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI 49444. Memorial Contributions in Madelyn’s honor can be directed to Kids’ Food Basket or United Way of the Lakeshore. Share memories with the family at www.sytsemafh.com.
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