Mary Ann Lenden, 87 of Traverse City passed away peacefully on Monday, June 11, 2012 at the Grand Traverse Pavilions.
Mary was born April 10, 1925 in Kankakee, IL. She married Robert A. Lenden in June, 1943 and had just recently celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary.
Our mom was a wonderful, caring, creative mom. She was one of the very best cooks and homemakers ever, instilling her fabulous cooking abilities in both of her daughters and her two daughters-in-law. Mom was a very talented and accomplished artist, with her work being sold throughout the United States. Our mom loved spending time with her family getting together for some good food and most especially beating anyone she could at cards! She loved games - Mom could beat the pants off of anyone playing Jeopardy … her love of reading was her source of her incredible wealth of knowledge.
She was part of the Traverse City Art Club and had been a hospice volunteer in Sun City, Arizona.
Surviving Mary is her husband Robert (Bob), children, Bob (Lupita) Lenden Jr., Betsy (William) Gratiot, Mike (JoAnn) Lenden; granddaughters Kristi, Suzy, Elizabeth, Sarah and Megan, and grandson David.
Mary is preceded in death by her daughter Karen in January, 2012.
Our mom will be remembered as a wonderful loving wife, a fabulous mom, and a fun and caring grandma. We will miss you so much mom, with all our love – your family.
Funeral services will be held for Mary at 11am on Thursday, June 14, 2012 at St. Francis Catholic Church with a visitation held one hour prior. Burial will take place at Oakwood Catholic Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Cherryland Humane Society or the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, P.O. Box 13600, Phoenix, AZ 85002-3600. Please sign Mary's online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com . The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.