Mary Elizabeth (Monaghan) McGinnis

Mary Elizabeth (Monaghan) McGinnis, age 87 of Grand Haven, passed peacefully into the arms of her loving God on August 6, 2019 surrounded by family, following a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on October 10, 1931 in Chicago, IL to Patrick and Florence (Ogden) Monaghan.
 
Mary grew up in Elmhurst, Illinois and the family moved to Bingham Farms, MI after she graduated from High School. She attended Marygrove College and the University of Michigan, where she earned a bachelor’s degree and completed post graduate studies in Social Work.
 
Mary spent an entire career at Catholic Social Services of Wayne and Oakland County, MI, finding exceptional families for hundreds of wonderful children. She retired in 1996 in Ann Arbor and moved to Grand Haven in 2014 to be closer to family.

Mary deeply loved her family, her many dear friends, and several cats over the years. She was an avid Detroit Tigers fan, having attended both the 1968 and 1984 World Series, and rarely missing a game on tv or the radio. Mary also humbly rooted relentlessly for her University of Michigan Wolverines football and basketball teams. She read everything she could lay her hands on, had an abiding love of classic and modern poetry, devoured New York Times crossword puzzles, and would rarely lose at Scrabble (but was never trying to win, only trying to “open up the board”).

Mary had an exceptional sense of humor, and she laughed more than she cried throughout her remarkable life. She was always more interested in others than herself, and went out of her way to make those she met feel special and unique; a rare gift that she liberally shared throughout her life. Mary also shared her Catholic faith with her family and friends, and she will live forever in the perpetual light of Jesus Christ.

Mary is survived by her four children: Kathleen (Deb Miller) McGinnis of San Diego, CA, Michael (Jody) McGinnis of Nashville, TN, Thomas (Vicki Stone) McGinnis of White Lake, MI, and Patrick (Tina) McGinnis of Grand Haven, MI; her brother, Michael (Susan) Monaghan of Montclair, NJ; grandchildren: Bowen (Kira McDonough) McGinnis, Jessica (Hannah) Kello, James McGinnis, Amanda McGinnis, Kristina McGinnis, Molly McGinnis, Mitchell McGinnis, Mary McGinnis; great-grandchild, Conner James McGinnis; and Cleopatra, her seal point Siamese kitty of Grand Haven.
 
She was preceded in death by her husband, John McGinnis; parents, Patrick and Florence Monaghan; sisters, Patricia Monaghan and Martha Corpus; and brother, John Monaghan.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at St. Patrick’s- St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 920 Fulton Street, Grand Haven, MI with Father Charles Schwartz as celebrant. Visitation and Rosary Recital will be held on Monday, August 12, 2019 at Klaassen Family Funeral Home. Rosary Recital will be at 3:30, Visitation with friends and family to follow from 4 to 7 p.m. Interment will be at Lake Forest Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Memory of Mary E. McGinnis Social Work Scholarship Fund C/O Grand Haven Area Community Foundation.

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