Marie Agatha Grace Ronayne

March 01, 1936 – April 3, 2024 In the years before her passing on April 3, 2024, Marie gave her family the gift of a collection of stories from her remarkable life. Text in quotes below are her own words. “March first, 1936, was an icy day in West Seneca, New York…Mom told me that when she delivered me [at my grandfather’s home] I was wrapped in a blanket and placed on the oven door to keep me warm”. That day Marie was born to John L. and Edna (Deer) Grace. Destined to be their only daughter and eldest of 7, she credits brothers Donald, John II (Jack), Dennis, Joseph, Charles and Thomas as her first (sometimes captive) storytelling audience. Throughout a life she called “different from the life of most people”, Marie developed a passion for education sparked when she won a scholarship to St. Joseph Academy, the mother house of the Adrian Dominicans. She became Sister Rose Corrine and a teacher at the same time and served as a nun in the Dominican Order for 16 years. Perhaps in part due to her proud Irish and German heritage, Marie came to question many of the rules and doctrines of the Catholic Church and was “frustrated with the unintelligible answers [she] was given.” After an evening spent consoling an 8th grade student told by the school’s priest that her father would go to hell for loving another man, Sister Rose realized that “the truth of [her] evolution into someone who would disobey rules, defy authority, and disagree with the Church’s teaching had ignited [her] convictions into actions.” She marched herself to the rectory, reminded the priest that “only God is our judge, come what may!” and began her separation from the Dominicans. While still bound by her vows Marie earned a scholarship to Wayne State University School of Education and moved to Detroit. There she met her Tom, a charming, handsome Irishman whom she married on November 25th, 1967, shortly after receiving her dispensation from Pope Paul VI. A very respectable 10 months later daughter Ann Marie was born, followed in 4 years by daughter Maureen Grace. Marie later retired from a successful career as a special education teacher and administrator in Oak Park, Michigan. She and her Tom built a home in Interlochen, Michigan where she nurtured her passions for gardening, service to church and community, and being “gramma” to Grace and Kaelin. Grateful for the thoughtful arrangements that Tom and Marie made over the years, Marie’s family was able to care for her in her home and were with her when she joined her Tom in heaven at 12:52 pm on April 3, 2024. Marie will be remembered with love by her daughters Ann (Kieran Goodman) and Maureen (Jim Loftus), Granddaughters Grace and Kaelin Loftus, devoted caregiver Katelynn VanBrocklyn, and the many students, educators, church and community members whose lives she enriched with her compassion and wisdom. The family would be honored by memorial donations made to Special Olympics, an organization that served so many of her beloved students. A private celebration of life ice cream party will be held in Summer 2024.

Marie Agatha Grace Ronayne

March 1, 1936 - April 3, 2024