Mary Owsiak

Mary Owsiak was a devoted woman. Her life was filled with wonderful travels, time spent with family, and commitment to her faith. Favored as, “Meme” to her many nieces and nephews, her warm personality and nurturing nature made each and every one of them feel special in her eyes. Mary’s steadfast way of making every family event fun and memorable and her ability to always look on the bright side of life will be deeply missed by many. Taken too soon, Mary leaves behind a legacy of living life to the fullest.

The year 1956 saw an increase in living standards and a focus on education helping to fuel the increase in high school graduates pursuing a college education. "The Price is Right" was popular among daytime television viewers and Elvis Presley appeared on the Ed Sullivan show for the first time, with his current hit, "Heartbreak Hotel." That same year, Mary was born to Charles and Onda Payne on October 29th in Detroit, Michigan. Born to a set of hardworking parents, her father was a construction superintendent and her mother was a homemaker caring for the four Payne children; Sue, Mary, Nancy, and John; Mary knew the value of a hard day’s work. She was a cherished daughter and a beloved sister.

As a toddler she wanted to be like her big sister Sue and would follow her around everywhere saying "me too, me too" earning herself the treasured nickname, “me too” for many of her early years. While living on Memorial Street, Mary attended Our Lady Queen of Hope where she had many friends. Typical of those times, children were friends with everyone on the block and were often spending their time running the neighborhood playing games together. Mary’s childhood was filled with a wonderful collection of memories from those days of playing and having a sense that their neighborhood was the best one in all of Detroit! Mary never turned down an opportunity for adventure. Graduating with the Class of 1974 from St. Mary’s of Redford, she and her friend Val set off for travels to London on a ship!

Mary shaped her life into one that reflected her core beliefs in her faith. She gave selflessly of her time volunteering at the Charismatic Catholic Center and for Angela Hospice while also working full time at the Woodland Medical Center. When it came to helping others, Mary was first in line and never complained of her countless hours devoting herself to serving others in need. She had a unique way of comforting and caring for others and making everyone she met feel that they were important. During these years, she also belonged to a prayer group in Canada where she gained strength to meet the challenges of caregiving as well as renewed her commitment to serving others with the deepest compassion.

For reprieve from these hard years of giving so much of herself, Mary enjoyed several pilgrimages to Medjugorje, Bosnia. It was on her third pilgrimage, that she met her future husband, Steve in June of 1993. The two of them had so much in common and hit it off right from the start. After a couple years of dating, they joined in marriage on July 22, 1995. Steve truly was Mary’s gift from God. They were the truest sense of the words commitment and love as they gave so much of themselves to their marriage. Anyone could see that they were deeply in love, happy, and content.

Mary was an extraordinary person who always put others first. Even in her painful days of migraines, she’d lift others up in prayer. Her Catholic faith was exceptionally important to her and she modeled its foundation of unconditional love for others in each day of her life. No one ever had to question her beliefs as they felt in her presence that she was an angel on Earth. Her dear family and close friends will fondly remember Mary for her faithful friendship, her loving heart, and her compassionate ways of serving others.

Mary Owsiak passed away on November 1, 2017, at the age of 61. She is survived by her loving husband Stephen, devoted mother Onda, sister Nancy (Tim) Zammitt, and brother John Payne. Cherised aunt to nine nieces and nephews and fifteen great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father Charles Payne and her older sister Susan Payne. Visitation is planned for Sunday 3-9 pm with a 7 pm rosary at Neely-Turowski Funeral Home, 30200 Five Mile (Between Middlebelt and Merriman). Instate Monday 9:30 am until time of mass at 10 am at St. Valentine Catholic Church, 14841 Beech Daly (South of Five Mile). Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Research Hospital. You may share a memory or photo and sign the guestbook at TurowskiLifeStory.com