Mary Denstaedt

Mary Garbis Denstaedt, 95, of Traverse City passed away peacefully on November 2, 2018 at the Traverse Victorian Senior Living Facility.

Mary was born on July 27, 1923 in Barry, South Wales in the United Kingdom to the late Gerrassimo and Olympia "Callie" (Jeka) Garbis.

Mary attended the Ursuline Girls School in Chatham, Ontario and graduated from Detroit Girls Catholic Central in 1941.

Mary met her future husband Irving Earl Denstaedt on a blind date. The two united in marriage on June 17, 1944 at St. Paul's Cathedral in Detroit.

Mary and Irv moved from Royal Oak to Traverse City in 1988 to be near their daughter Nancy.

Above all else, Mary loved her family. She enjoyed playing the keyboard and reading when she wasn't taking care of her home. In her younger years she also enjoyed volunteering for the Michigan Cancer Foundation in Royal Oak.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, her son John and her favorite sister-in-law Marion Waugh.

Mary is survived by her daughter Nancy (Chris) Shotwell of Traverse City; grandchildren Geoff (Kristen) Denstaedt, Scott (Angel) Denstaedt, Danielle (Jim) Koop, Jennifer (Justin) Edmiston, Elizabeth (Eric) Schoolmaster; great grandchildren Morgan Koop, Drew Koop, Emma Denstaedt and a great grandson due any day; beloved nieces and nephew Pat Adams, Nancy Kulpanowski, and Jim Waugh.

The family will celebrate Mary's life privately. She will be interred at Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit some time next summer.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Heartland Hospice. The family would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the caregivers at Heartland Hospice especially to Beth Nussdorfer and Laura Casey and the staff at Victorian Senior Living.

Please visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com to share your memories with the family.

The family is being cared for by Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.