Colleen L. Maynarich

As her family and friends can surely attest, Colleen Maynarich truly understood the secret to a life well lived. She was a constant source of strength for others, even in the most difficult of times, and she always had an encouraging word to say. Nothing brought Colleen greater joy than spending time with those she loved as her family and friends were what truly mattered. She went above and beyond to serve others, and her caring spirit allowed her to touch countless lives in ways both great and small. Dearly loved, Colleen will be forever missed by those who knew her best.

The 1970s were a bit of a transitional time in America. We were on the cusp of technological advancements like we had never seen, many of which would come to be in the 1980s. This was also a time of great excitement in the lives of Mark and Debbie Temple as they announced the birth of the baby girl they named Colleen Lynne on April 24, 1979, in Dearborn, Michigan.

Growing up, Colleen was a typical young girl of her generation in many ways. She was raised in the family home alongside her sister, Stephanie. Throughout her childhood Colleen enjoyed taking annual trips to Cedar Point and Sea World with both her family and the Duross family. They also took many memorable trips to the Lost Lake Woods Club, where the little “ole Blue” one-room cabin was the backdrop for so many priceless memories. Colleen was known to often have trouble learning to navigate the woods and would frequently end up at her uncle’s hunting blind instead of her dad’s blind. The Temple family took a few vacations to Virginia Beach as well.

While pursuing her education, Colleen attended local schools and participated in many activities. She was involved in her high school’s yearbook class and was an active member of the marching band. Colleen even went on to become drum major, a role that she was very honored to have and took very seriously. Over the years, she formed many deep friendships with people who she would remain close with for many years to come.

Following her graduation from high school, Colleen began working as a 911 dispatcher for the city of Dearborn Heights, following the McNamee family tradition of working in emergency services. She took the midnight shifts in order to attend college full time as well. Colleen’s job gave her many opportunities to change lives. She was once given a citation to recognize her for saving a baby’s life by giving the mother instructions in CPR over the phone. This was a very proud moment for Colleen, and she truly loved being able to help others through her work.

New and exciting changes were on the horizon for Colleen as she met the man who would quickly become the love of her life. His name was John Maynarich, and the two first met while playing in the high school band together. They had been schoolmates for some time and knew of each other, but they did not start dating until their high school years. It didn’t take Colleen and John long to realize that they were made for each other. He proposed on Christmas Eve in 1997. Since Colleen was late coming home, her father was angry that she had missed her curfew, but when she explained it was because John was proposing, the broken curfew was quickly forgotten.

All who knew Colleen can surely agree that, of all the things she loved in life, she treasured her family above all else. Together, she and John were overjoyed to welcome their beloved children, Emma and Jack, into their hearts and home. Colleen truly thrived in her role as a mother, and she enjoyed providing her children with everything they needed as well as some fun experiences. She and John took the children to Disney World, where they had gone on their honeymoon, and they also continued the tradition of visiting the Lost Lake Woods Club for the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. Colleen’s determination and resilience allowed her to face challenges head-on and lead her family fearlessly through the struggle. Losing her father in 2019 was a blow to the entire family, as was Colleen’s Lupus diagnosis in May. However, she never lost sight of what was important and always considered herself blessed to be surrounded by so many loved ones.

Never one to sit still for long, Colleen pursued many hobbies to stay busy in her free time. Her love of travel translated into a job as a flight attendant, which gave her the opportunity to travel the world. Colleen enjoyed listening to country music and went to several live concerts, winning free tickets to many of them. She even got the chance to meet her favorite artist, Eric Church, and had a pair of boots signed by him, which was a huge highlight in her life. Colleen loved caring for her dog, Gizzy, and her recently adopted kitten, Cash. She liked her Faster Horses weekends, and she was always up for adventure of any kind.

When reflecting on the life of Colleen Maynarich, it is easy to see both her unwavering strength and her unconditional love for her family. She was known for her solid work ethic and her drive to succeed, yet she also knew how to enjoy life in each and every moment. A loving wife and mother, Colleen was so proud to watch her family tree grow. She never backed down from a challenge, and she was a shining example of kindness and courage. Though she will be deeply missed, Colleen leaves behind a priceless legacy that her loved ones will be proud to carry on in her footsteps.

Colleen Lynne Maynarich, of Dearborn Heights, Michigan passed away November 4, 2022, at the age of 43. Beloved wife of John. Loving mother of Emma and Jack. Dearest sister of Stephanie Temple. Cherished aunt of Laila and Jake Antko, Declan and Brooklyn Gosur, Luka Maynarich, Gabriel Maynarich, Tyler (Zakk) Heilner, Dominick Bland and Jordan Gowan. Adored granddaughter of Donna (the late John)Temple-Bohl, Sue (the late Edward) Sherman, and the late Elsie and Russ McNamee. Dear daughter-in-law of John and Barb Maynarich, and sister-in-law of Scott (Michelle) and Brian (Dayna). Colleen is also survived by many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Visitation Wednesday, from 2-8 pm; Instate Thursday, from 12pm until time of service 1pm at Neely-Turowski Funeral Home, 30200 Five Mile Rd., Livonia, Michigan 48154.