Mary Ronayne

Mary Elizabeth Maloney Ronayne was very passionate about her life. She found great satisfaction in the relationships she established with her friends and family throughout her life. If you could ask Mary what her favorite possession was, she would quickly tell you it was her children and grandchildren. She exemplified what a mother should be.

Mary was born on July 20, 1923 to Dr. John Maloney and his wife Virginia. This was the year that Charlie Chaplin would direct his only silent movie in which he didn’t star. She was their first child of four and their only daughter. The city was Detroit and this was the place where Mary went to high school, college and married her boyfriend, Jack. It was the beginning of a lifetime of love, laughter and eleven children.

Mary graduated from Girl’s Catholic Central in 1941. She went on to Marygrove College obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology in 1945. It was during these college years that she met Jack Ronayne. Jack was preparing to go off to war (WW11) and Mary was not the least impressed with him. However, when Jack came home on leave for thirty days, they dated twenty nine days out of the thirty. They became engaged and married the day after Mary graduated from Marygrove College. It was this day that her life truly began. They settled in Detroit but her favorite home of several, was on Rutland Street. Unfortunately, there was a fire in the house, and for six weeks they lived in a motel. During this time not one child missed a day of school or hockey practice. Her children were her priority throughout her life. Mary loved being at home with her family. She did not like being pregnant but she loved holding the babies. She had a fondness for food but not the preparation of it. Going out to eat was a real treat for Mary. Her children, however, had their favorites. Spam burgers, hamburger stew, cinnamon toast and cocoa (breakfast on every school day) and pea soup topped the list. Her favorite season was summer. She would sit in her glider reading and enjoying a gin and tonic.

Mary loved the Big Band sound. The music from the 40’s was her favorite along with Harry Belafonte, Mel Torme and Rosemary Clooney. Television shows such as Saturday Night Live and Friends were more current favorites. When her youngest child Kelly, moved out of the house her family gave Mary a retirement party to celebrate forty five years of dedicated service. After Jack passed away in 1987, her children created a holiday, called "Leaf Day", that was celebrated every year on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. On this day the children all met at Mary’s house and did all the chores necessary to winterize the house. They cooked breakfast and gave Mary a full day of leisure. This was the Ronayne family’s own special holiday and it was celebrated every year on the same day. The closeness of Mary and her family has been passed down to all the grandchildren. Mary’s special nickname was “Mare” which in Ronayne language means nurturing mom, grandmother and most accepting person you would ever meet. Her daughter in-law Donna, felt like she was more of a daughter than a daughter in-law. All her children’s spouses were accepted fully into Mary and Jack’s life. Her son Daniel said “she has the most amazing gift to make each and every child feel special”.

Mary died on January 20, 2004 at the age of 80. Mary is the beloved wife of the late John (Jack) Ronayne Jr. MD, dear mother of John J. III (Kandy), Patrick J. (Cynthia Kopcznski), Kathy (Robert) Mangus, Colleen V. (Thomas J.) Ryan, Timothy M. (Debby), Margaret M. (Tom) Predhomme, Daniel C. (Nancy), Brendan T. (Donna MacDonald), Mathew B. (Sue), Mary Beth (Scott) Matherly, Kelly W. (Denise) and the late Sean. Sister of Father Malcom Maloney, O.F.M. Cap., Father Joseph Maloney, O.F.M. Cap., and James (Dot) Maloney. She is also survived by 36 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren Friends may meet with Mary’s family for a time of visitation on Thursday 6-9 pm and Friday 2-9 pm, with a Rosary at 7pm at McCabe Funeral Home 31950 W. 12 Mile Rd. Farmington Hills Michigan. Funeral service from Our Lady of Good Councel Catholic Church, Plymouth will be Saturday at 10:30 am (instate 9:30 am). Interment will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Detroit. To read Mary’s life story, share a memory, send flowers or make memorial contributions to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Metropolitan Detroit Chapter or C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, Child and Family Life Department, please visit her personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com.

Mary touched many lives in ways that will be remembered in her friends and family’s hearts forever. Her unselfish love and devotion toward her family will always be cherished.