Mary Kasprzyk's Obituary
Mrs. Mary Kasprzyk, age 90, passed away June 3, 2019 in Muskegon, Michigan where she lived for a short time with her son and his wife. Mary was born in Lancaster, New York on January 14, 1929 to Frank and Amelia (Beno) Kopasz. When she was quite young, the family moved from New York to Detroit where her father became part owner of a gas station. She attended St. Cecilia’s Catholic school through the third grade when her parents moved to the farm near Au Gres, MI. It was then that she and the family became members of St. Mark Catholic Church where, over the years, she taught Religion Classes and later became a cantor for many years leading the Church in song on Sundays, at weddings and at funerals. She so loved doing that.
On April 20, 1946, Mary married Joseph Kasprzyk in Saginaw, MI where they lived for several years. After four years in the city, they returned to Mary’s roots and bought a farm in Au Gres and eventually also bought the family farm where Mary grew up. She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph on October 16, 2004, by both her parents, and by all her siblings: two brothers, one sister, and their spouses. She is survived by her children, Deacon David (Loretta) Kasprzyk and Mary Jo (Douglas) Macaulay; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Her children, grand-children, and great grand-children meant the world to her.
In addition to her love of cantoring, Mary enjoyed reading, sewing and working in her flowers and garden and just loved the peaceful time mowing the grass. For the most part however, she was “married” to the farm, in good years and bad, and was always involved in all aspects of the farming operation. It was a labor of love from the beginning in 1950 on the farm along US 23 where they lived until 1970 and operated between 1960 and 1970 Potato Joe’s Market. And the farming continued through the mid 80’s at the family farm along Bessinger Rd.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Marks Catholic Church (415 S. Court St., Au Gres) on Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 11:00 AM . There will be visitation before Mass from 10 – 11AM. Interment will be at Linwood cemetery in Au Gres. Mary’s wish for everyone, family and friends: Keep growing in all ways together in your love for each other, and May God in His wondrous love, bless and keep us. In Tiny Tim’s words from the Christmas carol, “God bless us everyone.” Arrangements handled by The Sytsema Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Service, 737 E Apple Ave., Muskegon, MI 49442. Sign the guestbook online at www.sytsemafh.com
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