Marie J. Gonczar

Marie Justine (McKiernan) Gonczar passed from this life to begin her eternal life in Christ Jesus on Thursday, June 14, 2012. The second of eight children, she was born at the family farm in Richmond, Michigan on October 13, 1926 to the late John and Lucy (Burns) Mckiernan. She was married to George Gonczar on February 27, 1954 in Richmond, Michigan, moving to Tacoma, Washington where her husband was stationed and their first two children were born. Marie was a parishioner of Holy Cross Catholic Church and lived in the Marine City area for forty-three years. During the last 10 years of her life she courageously and quietly battled a degenerative brain disease that finally made it impossible for her to sustain her vital life. Marie was a devoted and beloved wife, mother, and grandmother. She cherished time spent with her grandchildren and will be always remembered for her selfless, kind, and gracious ways and the sweet times she would say, "O! Bless your heart!" She treasured her Irish heritage and found much pleasure in retelling stories from her early life growing up on the family dairy farm, always with an Irish gleam in her big blue eyes. She had a keen intellect and was a prolific reader. She has been the steadfast loving heart of her family. She will be dearly missed and always remembered. Marie is survived by her devoted husband of 58 years, George Gonczar; daughters, Marianne (Robert) Prybyla of Round Rock, TX and Theresa (Mark) Moore of Shelby Township; sons, George Gonczar, Jr. and James Gonczar of Laveen, AZ and Patrick Gonczar of Memphis, MI; grandchildren, Marie, Robert Jr., Natalie, and Joseph Prybyla of Round Rock, TX and Melanie, Gabriel, Christina, and Emily Moore of Shelby Township, MI; brothers, James (Patricia) Mckiernan of Richmond, MI, Ronald (Nancy) Mckiernan and Don P. (Patricia) Mckiernan of Memphis, MI, and John (Barbara) of Richmond, MI; sisters, Eileen Foley of South Lyons, MI, Virginia Foley of Wixom, MI, and Winifred Doane of Richmond, MI. Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, June 18, 2012 at 10 AM in Our Lady on the River Parish, Holy Cross Catholic Church, Marine City, Michigan. A dinner reception to celebrate the precious life of Marie will be held at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Richmond following graveside burial service at St. Michael Cemetery in Richmond, Michigan. Visitation hours will be at Rewalt Funeral Home in Richmond, Michigan on Saturday, June 16th, 4 - 8pm, and Sunday, June 17th, 3 - 8pm; the Rosary will be prayed Sunday evening, June 17, 2012 at 7 pm.

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Service

JUN 18. 10:00 AM (EDT)

Holy Cross Catholic Church
610 S. Water
Marine City, MI