Mrs. Mary F. Azzarello's Obituary
Mary Frances (Pawlowski) Azzarello passed away peacefully on June 16 at Hackley Hospital following a short illness. She was 91 years old.
Mary was born to Leo and Anna (Polivada) Pawlowski in Muskegon. She was the 10th of 11 children and the last surviving of her siblings. Mary attended St. Michael's Catholic School and St. Mary's School of Nursing where she attained a RN degree. In WWII, she was in the Army Cadet Nurse Corp., eventually working at Hine's Veteran's Administration Hospital in Chicago, where she met her future husband, Joseph Azzarello. They were married April 17, 1947 and were married 53 years until his death in 2000. They were founding members of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church.
Mary was a child of the depression and took great pride in the life she and Joe were able to provide for their children, and in the legacies she left for them and her grand- and great-grandchildren. Education, hard work, service to others, and truthfulness to a fault were values she espoused to the end. Her directness, sense of humor, and ability to prepare mass quantities of food for family gatherings, are the stuff of family tales to be retold forever. She was a unique force of nature who is sorely missed by all whose lives she touched.
Mary was a stay at home mother for many years, and returned to nursing once her children were grown. She retired from Mercy Hospital in 1990.Mary and Joe were blessed with 7 children; Linda (Stephen, PhD) Hecker, Carol (Jay) Keur, Joe (Cathy, MD) Azzarello, Janet (James, MD) Bauer, Steve (Christine) Azzarello, Ellen Azzarello, Joan (Mark) Larsen; 11 grandchildren; James, Jason, Nicole, Kurt, Hanna, Jack, Michael, Laura, Eric, Alex, Amanda and Victoria; 3 great grandchildren; Giana, Nico, and Lysander. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM Tuesday, June 21, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Marian Chapel, with the Rev. Fr. James VanderLaan presiding. Entombment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery Mausoleum. Visitation at The Walburn Chapel, 1547 W. Sherman Blvd., (231) 759-8565 will be from 6-8 PM Monday evening, with the Rosary prayed at 6 PM, and visitation will also be 1 hour prior to the Mass at Church. You may visit the family’s online guestbook at www.sytsemafh.com. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church Journey of Faith or USS LST-393 Veteran's Museum in Muskegon, 560 Mart Street, Muskegon, Michigan 49440.
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