Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
BERGLAND, Mich. - Mary Louise Massie, almost 91, passed away early Saturday morning, Feb. 13, 2021, under the attentive and loving care of the staff at the Trillium House and Upper Peninsula Home Health and Hospice after a courageous battle with cancer.
Mary Lou was born in Norway, Michigan, on March 25, 1930, the daughter of the late Ralph and Sophie (Remondini) Massa. She graduated from Bessemer High School in 1947, and St. Mary's School of Nursing in Rochester, Minnesota, in 1951. On Sept. 1, 1951, she married John Massie. Mary Lou worked as a nurse in Milwaukee while her husband earned his degree in dentistry at Marquette University.
The couple returned to the U.P. living in Ramsay, Bessemer, and Ishpeming while they raised their family, with Mary Lou working as a nurse at Marquette General Hospital in the addiction rehabilitation unit until her retirement in 1992.
Mary Lou was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John; her parents, Ralph and Sophie Massa; her in-laws, Herman and Marie (Tavernini) Massie; one brother, Gerald Massa; several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; a niece, Nina Massa; nephews, Tony and Greg Massa; granddaughters, Michelle Decaire and Holly Racin; and former daughter-in-law, Kari Massie.
Mary Lou is survived by brothers, Jim Massa of Okemos, Jack (Linda) Massa of LaCrosse, Wisconsin; and a sister, Donna (Bob) Maccani of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. She is also survived by eight children, Michael (Debbie) Massie of Republic, Peggy (Jerry) Racine of Ishpeming, JoAnne (Randy) Decaire of Homer Glen, Illinois, Jim (Cheryl) Massie of Iron River, John (Lois) Massie of Ishpeming, Mark Massie of Grapevine, Texas, Jeffrey Massie of Grand Rapids, and Jaye Massie of Ishpeming. She is also survived by 21 precious grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Mary Lou was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Bergland, the Daughters of Isabella and the Historical Society of Bergland and Matchwood where she volunteered weekly. She enjoyed reading, walking, sports of all kinds, but especially the New York Yankees, knitting dishcloths and afghans as gifts, and baking. Mary Lou made excellent chocolate chip cookies which she gifted to each child and their spouses, each grandchild and their spouses, and all of her great-grandchildren on every birthday, packaged up and shipped all around the country.
A celebration of Mary Lou's life will be scheduled in early July 2021 at her home on Lake Gogebic. The family would like to thank the caring staff of Trillium House and U.P. Home Health and Hospice for the excellent and loving care they provided to Mary Lou. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her memory to Trillium Hospice House, 1144 Northland Drive, Marquette, MI 49855.
Mary Lou's obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.
On a final note, Mary Lou was a kind, gentle and sweet soul who was loved by all who were privileged to know her, and she will be missed.
