Margaret C. Tuominen

HURLEY, Wis. - Margaret C. Tuominen, 101, former longtime Montreal resident, died peacefully Sunday afternoon, April 23, 2017, at Villa Maria Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hurley, with her loving family by her side.

The former Margaret Barnaby came into this life on Nov. 24, 1915, in Ironwood, Mich., daughter of the late Alphonse and Agnes (Hansen) Barnaby. She attended St. Ambrose School and graduated from St. Ambrose High School in 1935. She then was employed briefly in local "dime" stores.

She married Gust A. Tuominen on Aug. 28, 1937. They resided for a time in Gile and for the rest of their married life in Montreal, along with their dear son and our brother, Paul.

Margaret was a member of the former Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Montreal and served as secretary of its Altar Society. She was an avid reader and also city librarian whose passion was mysteries, as James Patterson was her favorite author.

She loved to bake and the aroma and taste of hot homemade bread was the best. She loved to play cards and spent years on the Montreal election board. She was a courageous woman with a winning smile. But most of all she was a devout Catholic whose faith was so important to her as she lived it every day. She was kind and caring with an amazing sense of humor with a motto: "It's better to laugh than to cry."

Survivors include her faithful and devoted son, Paul Tuominen, Hurley; daughter, Peggy Gasiorowski, Plymouth, and sons, Richard (Diane) Tuominen, Marion, Iowa, and Michael (Shelly) Tuominen, Bayside, all of whom will miss her tremendously; grandchildren, Greg, Chris, Angie, David, Martin and Andrew; and great-grandchildren, Lisa, Aubrey, Alex, Paige, Taylor, Leandra, Zach, Travis and Kayla.

Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Gust, on Dec. 9, 1998; sisters, Florence (Barnaby) Eaton and June (Barnaby) Petrusha; brothers, Joseph, John and Douglas Barnaby; son-in-law, Robert Gasiorowski, in 2010; sister-in-law, Harriet Barnaby; and brother-in-law, Joseph Petrusha.

Out of respect for her wishes, cremation has taken place.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, May 2, at 11 a.m., preceded by visitation in the St. Joseph Family Room at 10 a.m., at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Ironwood, with the Rev. Robb Jurkovich, celebrant.

Rite of Committal and inurnment will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Ironwood.

Arrangements have been entrusted to McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood. Margaret's obituary can be viewed online and condolences given to her family at mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com.

Our whole family would like to thank the staff at Sky View and Villa Maria Nursing Centers for the wonderful care given to Margaret. We will be forever grateful and cannot thank you enough. Thank you also to Rena and Mary at Maple Leaf Group Home for taking Paul to see his mom every week and also Highline Corp. for their dedication. Our special appreciation to her longtime dear friend, Faye Battisti, who was very special to mom. God bless each and every one of you.