Mary "Marge" Margaret Secontine

Mary Margaret Secontine, 93, of Glen Arbor passed away June 18, 2023 surrounded by family in Vancouver, WA, where she had been spending her winter. Mary, who often went by her nickname “Marge”, was born on February 11, 1930 in Detroit, MI to the late Henry Lincoln Kemp and Margaret Buchanan Kemp. She attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart during her grade school and high school years, growing up in Detroit. She graduated from Barat College of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest, IL. Marge was a lifelong supporter of the Sacred Heart community, a network of private Catholic schools dedicated to educating women, having sponsored three generations in her extended family to matriculate through the schools. She was a proud member of the committee to create the current location of the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Bloomfield Hills, MI. On November 9, 1957 Marge married the love of her life, Robert “Bob” Secontine in Detroit. In her later years, after Bob passed away, Marge would often remind those around her how grateful she was to have met Bob and to have shared a life together that lasted 57 wonderful years. While doctors were initially skeptical that they could ever have children, they were blessed with four sons, Rob, Chris, David, and Tim, and together raised their family in West Bloomfield, MI, where they enjoyed a lifetime of abundant family experiences. Proud of her Buchanan heritage, every year on St. Patrick’s Day, Marge would call each of her sons to remind them “the best quarter of you is Irish!” In 2000 Marge and Bob permanently moved to their home on Glen Lake where they enjoyed spending family vacations for many summers prior. Upon becoming a permanent resident of Glen Arbor, Marge joined three local social groups: The Glen Lake Women’s Club, The Glen Lake Gardening Club and the Walking Club. Each of these groups enabled Marge in her retirement years to duplicate a life of abundant friendships in her new home while also doing things that brought her happiness and for which she had passion: gardening, being active in her community, and connecting with friends. Her gratitude was endless for her lifelong friendships as well as those she enjoyed with Bob at Glen Lake. To all her family and friends, Marge Secontine was well known for her cheerful personality, fun loving spirit, and positive mindset. She smiled so easily and happily that those who crossed paths with her immediately felt at ease. Marge lived her life focused on her opportunities instead of her limits. She was a devout Catholic and instilled that sense of Christianity in her children. Though she lived with a hearing disability since childhood, Marge didn’t consider it a limitation, and instead cheerfully navigated around it while participating in things that brought her pleasure and happiness. Marge was also known for her unlimited devotion to Bob and her family. From supporting Bob’s passion for Ohio State football by attending or following countless games together, to raising their family together and joining Bob in running his family real estate business. Although she wasn’t born a natural sales person and lacked experience in business, Marge switched from a career as a substitute teacher and homemaker to dedicating herself to earning her broker’s license to join Bob where she flourished as a trusted broker for Century 21 Secontine Associates real estate company. After Bob retired from real estate, Marge continued to work serving clients to whom she was devoted and who still relied on her for her service. Her family was blessed with Marge’s pure and simple joy for life and genuine interest in those she loved. Marge and Bob were long time members of Our Lady of Refuge in Orchard Lake, MI and most recently of St. Philip Neri since 2000, where she will be laid to eternal rest next to her husband, Bob. Mary is survived by her sons Rob (Judee) of Groton, MA, Chris of Bloomfield Hills, MI, Dave of Naples, FL, and Tim of Los Angeles; grandchildren Alexandra [of Chicago], Robert [of Glen Arbor] and Olivia of Groton, MA], and Grace of Bloomfield Hills, MI and Gabriella of New York, NY. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at St. Philip Neri in Empire from 4 to 6 PM with the Rosary to be prayed at 6 pm. Marge’s funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at 11 AM with visitation beginning one hour prior. Memorial contributions in memory of Mary may be directed to The Sacred Heart Academy of Bloomfield Hills or to the Glen Lake Gardening Club. The family is being served by Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Please visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com to share your thoughts and memories with the family. We Love You, Mom, and we miss you more than we can ever truly express. Thank you for being the Best and Most Devoted Mom we could ever have.

Mary "Marge" Margaret Secontine

February 11, 1930 - June 18, 2023