Mary Gazarek

Traverse City – Mary’s life was centered on her faith and her family. Born in Ohio, her family relocated to Michigan where she grew up in Melvindale, the second of four close siblings. Meeting her future husband Frank Gazarek after her graduation from high school, she worked, waited and prayed for his safe return from combat in Europe during WWII. They were married in 1946 at St. Alphonsus Church in Dearborn and welcomed twin daughters in 1947. Enjoying a close and large extended family throughout their married life, Mary and Frank and their girls remained in southeast Michigan until their retirement, Mary as an executive secretary at Ford Motor Company and Frank as the plant director of the Henry Ford Community College. Then onwards north to Mullett Lake and later Traverse City, they spent a happy retirement enjoying nature, the outdoors, fishing and cruising the lake in their boat affectionately named by Frank as “The Queen”, in honor of his lifelong love. Their family grew as well, with sons-in-law and grandchildren bringing more fulfillment and joy to Frank and Mary, with daughter Patricia married to James Cunningham in 1972, and daughter Paula to Dr. Gary Wismer M.D. in 1982, and granddaughters Lisa and Laura born to Patty and Jim. With new homes and relocations in Indian River, Traverse City and Bradenton, Florida as they went along, life was always busy. It was shared joyfully during summers, holidays and “Grandma Camps” with their children and grandchildren, while also making memories with daughter Paula and her husband Gary then in Jacksonville, Florida. After Frank’s passing in 2003, Mary divided her time between Northville with family and her home in Traverse City, volunteering at the Father Fred Foundation, the Humane Society and enjoying the Senior Center. She would later meet Roman A. Garvin in Traverse City and they would marry at Joseph’s Church on Old Mission Peninsula. Mary would soon discover she had another loving extended family in all the Garvin siblings, children and grandchildren that Roman shared with her. Mary and Roman were able to share some adventurous years together enjoying polka festivals and fun with friends at the Leelanau Sands Casino, the Sleeping Bear Dunes, and a cross-country train trip to visit Mary’s daughter Paula in Santa Barbara, CA. Mary’s hobbies were always centered around her home and family, earning rave reviews for her culinary and baking talents. Her competitive card playing, love of music, reading, bird watching, cheering on her Detroit Tigers and her sense of humor along with a succession of collies and cats brought her joy throughout her life. But her special love was always her family, and that love was returned by all throughout her long and beautiful life,and expanded by the joy of anticipating and knowing great grandchildren Colin, Aubrey, Isabelle, Logan and Isaac. Living each day with purpose, strength, determination, gratitude and prayer, she was, and will always be, cherished by her family, who now add to that love from grateful hearts, a prayer that she will forever rest in peace. Mary is survived by her husband Roman of Traverse City; her twin daughters, Patty (James) Cunningham of Northville, Paula Wismer of Santa Barbara, CA; grandchildren Lisa (Michael, M.D.) Louwers, M.D. of Solon, OH, Laura (Moshe) Rothman of Washington, D.C., her six great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews as well as the extended Garvin family. She was preceded in death by her first husband Frank E. Gazarek, her son in law, Gary Wismer, M.D. and siblings: Evie Motyka, Estella Jarosz and Sam Vojnovich. A private family mass will take place at St. Joseph Catholic Church with inurnment in the St. Joseph Columbarium. The Rev. Benjamin Rexroat will celebrate the mass. Memorial contributions may be made to the Father Fred Foundation or to Mass Intentions. The family is being cared for by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.

Mary Gazarek

May 4, 1923 - August 4, 2020