Mary Ann Judith (Olejniczak) Sych, 86, of Traverse City, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020 while surrounded by family at her home that she shared with her husband, Chester, on Old Mission Peninsula, after suffering a stroke three days earlier.

Mary Ann was born on Aug. 5, 1933 in Detroit to the late Stanley and Stella (Wisniewski) Olejniczak. She attended St. Louis the King Elementary School and graduated from St. Stanislaus High School in 1950.

Mary Ann married her high school sweetheart, Chester Thomas Sych, on Nov. 6, 1954 at St. Louis the King Catholic Church.

Mary Ann and Chester raised their family of five children in Clawson and later in Rochester Hills. She was active in the Catholic Church, particularly in choirs, including the formation of the Rochester Catholic Chorale. She also served many years as planning and zoning executive secretary for the City of Rochester Hills.

After retirement and moving to Old Mission Peninsula in 1997, she dedicated her time to her faith community in many ways, including as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion and choir member at St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Mary Ann is survived by her husband of 65 years, Chester;
sons, Lawrence (Susan) Sych, Thomas (Doreen) Sych, Terence (Constance) Sych and John (Heidi) Sych; daughter, Katherine (Levent) Tugrul; grandchildren, Maria Sych, Benjamin Sych, Hannah (Jeffrey) Kirkman, Kenan Tugrul, Conor Sych and Jordan Tugrul; sister, Loretta (John) Swiecicki; nieces and nephews, Kenneth (Mary) Scislowicz, Francis (Nancy) Scislowicz, Judy Zettle and Susan (Paul) Conger.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Delphine Scislowicz; brother-in -law, Frank Scislowicz; and nephew, Stanley Scislowicz.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Saturday, Feb. 1, at 11 a.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 12675 Center Road, Traverse City, MI 49686. Visitation will take place one hour prior to Mass, as well as from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 31, at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. The holy rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. Mary Ann will be laid to rest in St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to a Catholic charity of one's choosing.

Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services is caring for Mary Ann and her family; www.reynoldsjonkhoff.com .