Mary E. Kostrzewa

Mary Kostrzewa, 74, of Mt. Pleasant, passed away Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, at home surrounded by family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Loren Kalinowski presiding and Father Richard Jozwiak concelebrating. Cremation will follow and her ashes will be interred at Calvary Cemetery at a later date. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 5-9 p.m. at the Charles R. Lux Family Funeral Home, 2300 S. Lincoln Rd. Visitation continues at the church on Friday one hour prior to Mass. Mary was born Sept. 18, 1935, in her family home in Isabella County, the daughter of the late William and Stella (Mead) Murphy. She was raised on the family dairy farm. Mary graduated from Beal City High School. Mary then worked at the Mt. Pleasant Regional Center as a patient assistant. She then continued her education at Saginaws St. Marys Hospital, where she received training to become an x-ray technician. In 1968 she married Dan Kostrzewa, and began the full time job of raising his nine children plus another child she had with Dan. She retired as an x-ray technician in 2008 after having spent the last portion of her career specializing in mammography. She worked in this field her entire life, having only taken some time away to raise her family. In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, Mary, having been born on a farm, loved gardening. She also enjoyed cooking, sewing, and her cats (Md, and Sophie). Marys faith was important to her throughout her life. She was an active lifelong member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish. She volunteered for the March of Dimes, and Sacred Hearts Heart for Health . Mary is survived by her husband of 41 years, Daniel of Mt. Pleasant; nine children, Michael (Lihting) Kostrzewa of Mt. Pleasant, Daniel (Missi Yeomans) Kostrzewa of Traverse City, Thomas (Jean Ogilvie) Kostrzewa of Kalamazoo, Lucy Kostrzewa of Westhaven, CA, Amy (Ken Roth) Kostrzewa of Northville, James (Amy) Kostrzewa of Traverse City, Mark (Kate) Kostrzewa of Montara, CA, Julie (Scott) Staudacher of Rockford, Kevin (Tonya) Kostrzewa of Kalamazoo; son-in-law, Bob Horan of Mt. Pleasant; grandchildren, Isabella, Grace and Daniel Kostrzewa, Connor Kostrzewa, Ben and Alex Kostrzewa, Cl, Maeve and Leah Diggins, Aubrey and Kaureen Horan, Avery Kostrzewa, Devin Kostrzewa, Nick and Lydia Staudacher, and Kayleigh, Reid and Estella Kostrzewa; one great-granddaughter, Makayla; three brothers, Tom (Donna) Murphy of Mt. Pleasant, William (Patricia) Murphy of Mt. Pleasant and George (Gloria) Murphy of Marshall; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a daughter Dorothy Horan in 2008. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a contribution to Woodland Hospice, Mt. Pleasant, or the Heart for Health Program administered by Sacred Heart Parish. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.