Mary L. McCormick

Mary McCormick, 72, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and faithful servant of the Lord, entered into eternal rest on July 5, 2026, surrounded by the love and prayers of her family.

Born July 22, 1953, in Traverse City, Mary was the third beloved daughter of Joseph and Cleo Cavitch. Her love for God and servant heart formed early in her childhood. Raised with faith at the center of family life, Mary witnessed a strong example of sacrificial love in her parents’ faithful marriage. Mary graduated from St. Francis High School (Class of ‘71) and earned an associate degree in nursing from Michigan Technological University (Class of ‘73).

Mary’s greatest loves were God and her family. She was a selfless, dedicated wife to Hugh for almost 44 years and an unwavering source of love and support to her daughters, Jennifer and Julie. Mary beamed with pride and joy in her role as “Nana” to her six grandchildren. Mary’s greatest vocation was raising “her girls” to know the Lord and live their Catholic faith, and this desire also extended to her grandchildren. The name of Jesus was always on Mary’s lips, either in speech or song. She could always be relied on to give honest advice that was rooted in her faith because she desired for everyone to “get to heaven” and personally knew the freedom that came with living in God’s truth. Mary was often heard singing traditional or self-composed worship songs throughout the home and as she snuggled her daughters and grandchildren. Mary had a special way of always placing God at the center of holidays and daily life through simple traditions that are now cherished gifts carried on by her daughters and their families. Mary’s example of deep faith and sacrificial love is her greatest legacy.

Throughout her life, Mary generously and selflessly served family, friends and strangers through humble acts of love. Mary was the kind of person who would drop everything and ask, “How can I help?” to anyone in need. Mary volunteered in various ways at GTACS during Jennifer and Julie’s school years and never hesitated to run errands or pick up a broom, sponge, laundry basket or paint roller to help them as adults. As a nurse for 41 years, Mary cared deeply for her patients and tended to them with great dedication and compassion. As a hospital minister, Mary brought Christ in the Eucharist to hospitalized parishioners of St. Francis Church. She fed the homeless and needy as a volunteer for St. Francis Glad Meals and Safe Harbor. Mary regularly served the Church as a Eucharistic Minister and weekly Adorer. For many years she shared her talents, singing in the choir for Mass and funerals at Immaculate Conception and St. Francis churches. In her thoughtfulness, Mary visited and delivered baked goods to the elderly and mailed religious poems to families mourning the loss of a loved one. She never shied away from an opportunity to be God’s hands and feet to others. In serving others, she served her Lord.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Cleo; her brother, Robert Joseph; her sister, Shirley Fink; and her father- and mother-in-law, William and Lucy McCormick. She is survived by her husband, Hugh; her daughters, Jennifer (John) Mackovjak and Julie (Matthew) Schwalenberg; her grandchildren, Matthew, Luke, Mariana, Elise, Nathan, and Thomas Mackovjak; her sister, Patti (Jim) Redell; her brother-in-law, David Fink; and her brother- and sisters-in-law, Fran Rosa and John (Brynda) McCormick. Mary is also survived by her seven nieces and nephews and fourteen great-nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on July 20, 2026, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Visitation begins at 10 AM, followed by the funeral Mass at 11 AM and a luncheon. Burial will take place at Oakwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s memory may be made to Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools.

The family would like to express its deepest gratitude to Heartland Hospice, which provided outstanding, compassionate care to Mary in her final years of life.

Mary’s legacy will live on in her family, friends and all those whose lives she touched.

“Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your master.”

Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories with Mary’s family at her tribute page at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.

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