Mary Catharine Fortino

Mary Catharine Fortino, 74, of Mt. Pleasant passed away Sunday, May 26, 2002 at the Isabella County Medical Care Facility. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, May 31, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Robert Byrne officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call at Lux Funeral Home on Thursday from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. with a vigil service beginning at 4:30 p.m. Visitation continues at the church on Friday from 9-10 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sacred Heart Academy Foundation, the American Diabetes Foundation, or to the charity of the donors choice. Envelopes are available at Lux Funeral Home. Mary was born May 24, 1928, in Lansing, the daughter of Charles B. and Catharine C. (Korn) Allen. She married Paul Fortino Jr. September 6, 1952 at St. Simons Church in Ludington. She spent her childhood in Ludington, graduating from St. Simons High School in 1946. She graduated from Michigan State University in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology. After her marriage to Paul, they moved to Mt. Pleasant in 1952. She became very involved in the community. Some of her affiliations included volunteering at Central Michigan Community Hospital with the ladies auxiliary, Tours with Children, the Presidents Club and Chippewa Club of CMU, Mt. Pleasant Country Club, and she also served as a Girl Scout leader. She was a member of Sacred Heart Church and belonged to the Catholic Daughters. She and Paul loved to travel, having visited such places as Africa, Iceland, Australia, Thailand and the Soviet Union. Mary is survived by her husband, Paul Fortino, Jr. of Mt. Pleasant; two daughters, Kathleen (Randy) LaTulip of Midland and Pamela Fortino of San Francisco; two sons, Paul T. (Sheila Bentrum) Fortino of Ypsilanti and Joe Fortino of South Lyon; four grandchildren, Jenni and Stefan LaTulip and Elizabeth and Catharine Fortino and their mother, Robin Fortino; one brother, David (Shirley) Allen of Plantville, Fla.; one sister, Ann (Harold) Betka of Cheboygan; many nieces and nephews; and a special friend and former daughter-in-law, Denise Vernon of Lakeland, Fla. who was of great help and comfort during their stay in Florida. She was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, Charles Allen.