Mary E. Lorek

Mary Elizabeth Lorek passed away surrounded by her loving family on Dec. 2, 2025, in Centerville, Ohio.

She was born on April 30, 1936, in Detroit, to Bernard Ames Goode and Margaret Florence (Kirchgessner) Goode.

Mary often said that her greatest achievement in life was her four children: Mary (Lynn) Rasch of Culver, Ind., Mark Stephen Rasch of Bellbrook, Ohio, Leslie Margaret (Rasch) Slater of Pittstown, N.J., and Edward Arthur (Ted) Rasch of Grand Haven. Mary also loved her stepchildren: Jason James Lorek of Winter Garden, Fla., and Melissa Anne Palamaro of Jacksonville, Fla., and treasured the memories of the time they spent together. Mary cherished her marriage of more than 51 years to her husband, Kenneth James Lorek. Introduced to downhill skiing by Ken, she enjoyed many ski trips with him to resorts in Michigan and New Hampshire. Their shared love of travel took them often to Northern Michigan, as well as on memorable cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean.

Mary's lifelong affection for animals began when, as a young girl, she entered a radio station contest in Birmingham, Mich., and surprised her parents by winning a dog, Laddie, a collie-chow mix. Her love for animals continued throughout her life, and she supported her children's many pets over the years. The last dog she and Ken owned together was a standard schnauzer named Stormy, whom she remembered with great fondness. Mary attended Birmingham High School and studied at Michigan State University, where she was a member of Alpha Phi sorority. In the early 1970s, she returned to school to become an X-ray technologist. After graduating, she worked at Mercy Hospital in Benton Harbor, first in radiography and later in radiation therapy.

Most of Mary's adult life was spent in St. Joseph, where she loved living near Lake Michigan. She enjoyed the natural beauty of the lake in every season – especially the snowy winters – as well as local traditions such as the St. Joseph art fair and the many restaurants along the waterfront.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her stepmother, Georgia Edna (Humphrey) Goode; her sister, Margaret Shirley (Goode) McMahon; her brothers: Bernard Edward "Ted" Goode and James "Jim" William Goode; her stepsister, Margaret Mary (Dreystadt) Keller; and her stepbrother, John Nicholas Dreystadt.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Ken Lorek; aforementioned children and stepchildren; daughter-in-law, Elizabeth "Liz" Rasch; stepdaughter-in-law, Alison Rachel Lorek; stepson-in-law, John Michael Palamaro Jr.; her grandchildren: Rebecca "Becca" Leigh Slater, Andrew "Drew" Paul Slater (Ashley Marney), Ruthie Marie Baker (Evan), Matthew Stephen Rasch (Megan), and John Douglas Rasch (Chloe Callison); her stepgrandchildren: Emily Elizabeth Lorek, Megan Marie Palamaro, Lilly Meyer Palamaro and Michael John Palamaro; and her great-grandchildren: Jackson, Adeline, Isabel and Evelyn Baker; Nora and James Rasch and Akira Slater-Marney.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan, 5400 Niles Road, St. Joseph, MI 49085.

Visitation will be from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, at Starks Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 15, in Riverview Cemetery, 2925 Niles Road, St. Joseph.