Mary Grcevich Mavretich

Obituary

Mary was born October 18, 1957 in Detroit MI, the youngest of three children of John and Ann Grcevich and grew up in Warren, MI.

Mary’s work life started right after High School at Bob Brent’s Warren Chrysler Plymouth where she worked in every office position over her 20 year career there: Cashier, Billing, Accounts Payable, Payroll and Warranty.  In 1991, she ventured into to a totally different career learning how to and running a one girl Dental Office which lead to her second 20 year career.
On April 16, 1983 she married Mark Mavretich, as the two became pretty much inseparable after meeting a few years earlier.  Of course, after meeting Mark, she became very active in the Detroit area Croatian community.  She served on the Board of Trustees of Croatian Fraternal Union Zora (Dawn) Lodge 351 and as Nest Manager of Croatian Fraternal Union Zvijezda (Star) Nest 318 for many years and the couple were like fixture at the Hrvatski Dom (Croatian Home) on McNichols in Detroit and the American Croatian Club in Warren where the Lodge relocated to in 1981.  In 2002 they were honored as Persons of the Year, a literal Who’s Who of those who have supported the Lodge in many ways over the years.
Mary learned to make ceramics at a private residence and loved it.  She made lots of different pieces over the years, including Christmas Trees, a complete Nativity set, multiple Music Boxes for friend’s newborns and an Old Time Sailor, to name a few.  Unfortunately, with her diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis in 1997, she slowly began to decline, loosing feeling in her hands which meant she had to stop doing ceramics, much to her dismay.
Never one to give up, she would always put on a good face and treat everyone with kindness and compassion, never letting on what MS was doing to her as it continued to ravage her body right to the very end.
Mary was predeceased by her parents, John and Ann Grcevich.  She is survived by her loving husband and caregiver Mark; brother Jim (Beth) and sister Donna and many cousins.
The family is grateful knowing Mary is finally at peace and hopes everyone will cherish their fond memories of her.  No service will be held.

Donations can be made in Mary’s name to: National Multiple Sclerosis Society New York NY, Breast Cancer Research Foundation New York NY, Feeding America Washington DC, Croatian Fraternal Union Zora Lodge 351 Warren MI, St Lucy Croatian Catholic Church Troy MI

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