Mary Maki

GILLETTE, Wyo. - Mary Helen (Golberg) Maki, 92, wife of the late Roy Harold Maki of Bergland, Michigan, passed away Dec. 28, 2020, at The Legacy Living and Rehabilitation Center in Gillette, from complications of COVID-19.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at noon on July 31, 2021, at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Bergland. Inurnment will follow at Evergeen Cemetery in Ewen, Michigan.

Mary Helen was born March 14, 1928, in Ewen, and was the oldest daughter of Catherine Helen (Livingston) Golberg and Andrew Martin Golberg. She grew up on a small farm in Matchwood, Michigan, with her siblings Andrew and Mary Inga. Her mother, Helen, was the oldest of 17 children, so Mary Helen had many cousins and they roamed the nearby Norwich Bluffs. The family moved to St. Cloud, Minnesota, during Mary Helen's middle school years and she said she was a strong swimmer, because she learned how to swim in the Mississippi River.

They moved back to the farm and Mary Helen attended high school in Bergland, where she met Roy Maki. He was the captain of the basketball team and she was a cheerleader. They were married on Aug. 20, 1947. Roy was a telegrapher on the Soo Line Railroad and they followed Roy to where he was stationed around the Midwest. Mary Rennette "Rennie)" was born in 1950 in Waukegan, Illinois, and Roy Bryan was born in 1953, also in Waukegan. In 1954, the family moved back to Ewen, and Roy partnered with his brother, Wilbert, and his father, Bill, in the Maki Company. Her son, James Harold "Smickers," was born in 1956. Her daughter, Helen Marie "Heidi," was born in 1960.

Mary Helen had three passions throughout her life - her music, her nursing career, and her family. Heidi and Mary Helen sang in the choir known as The Sacred Heart Singers. Heidi remembers her mother driving "The Big Blue Bus" with all the choir members to performances in churches throughout the Midwest and East Coast. As they became known, they were invited to sing on television at Christmas. Heidi and Mary Helen made one 45 record and three LP records with the choir of songs with original words and music. Her whole life, Mary Helen would sing wherever she happened to be and invited everyone to join her singing songs.

As their four children and 10 grandchildren were growing up, Mary Helen loved to be with her family at their cabin on Lake Gogebic. She would "make memories" by taking her grandchildren berry picking, camping trips, and even a 100-mile bike trip. Being a strong swimmer, she taught them all to swim. In the winter, she would take them to the Porcupine Mountains to ski. Mary Helen loved ice cream and every excursion included an ice cream cone.

Mary Helen was an active community member and one of the charter members of the Ewen Medical Clinic and the local ambulance service. In 1974, she attended Gogebic Community College to pursue a nursing career. Mary Helen was graduated on Nov. 29, 1976, as a Licensed Practical Nurse by the Michigan Board of Nursing and as a Trained Practical Nurse in the state of Wisconsin. In 1977, Mary Helen became a licensed ambulance attendant in Wisconsin and Michigan. She worked for the Ontonagon County Ambulance Service as an EMT. In 1978, Mary Helen began working as an LPN for the Northwoods Living Care Center in Phelps, Wisconsin. Mary Helen continued to take classes to re-certify her licensure until she retired Jan. 23, 1984, from her medical career.

After retiring, Mary Helen and Roy spent many winters with good friends on the Padre Islands in Texas. After Roy passed on Feb. 4, 2013, she moved to Wyoming with her daughter, Rennie, spending her summers in Ewen, with Bryan and Sandy. On Sept. 1, 2018, she became a resident at The Legacy Living and Rehabilitation Center in Gillette, where she remained until her passing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, brother, and sister-in-law. She never recovered from the passing of her husband, Roy, and her son, Jim.

She is survived by her daughter, Mary Rennette (Mack); son, Roy Bryan (Sandra); and daughter, Helen Marie (Kim). She is survived and loved by her grandchildren, Shane (Beth), Jacob (Amy), Reverend Christopher (Kari), Jed (Brittany,) Jordy, Luke, Lacie and Nickolas. She will be remembered by her great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Kyle, Cole, Jordyn, Quinn, Tinsley, Ailyn, Kinley, Shay, Garrett and Royal.

Mary Helen will be buried at the Ewen Evergreen Cemetery beside her husband, Roy, as promised.

Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel, 210 West 5th St., Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at gillettememorialchapel.com.