Mary Lee Kowalski

Mary Kowalski peacefully passed away in her sleep at home on Friday, March 22, 2024, as she left this world and her amazing life and family to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in Heaven.
She is survived and totally missed by her husband Dave of 52+ wonderful years along with her children David II (Melissa), Michael, Sarah (B.J.) Helle, and Matthew (Rhonda); and her adored grandchildren, Jade Gibson, Averi (Jake) Porter, Jenna, Witten, Addison, Sawyer, Nathanael; great-grandson, Miguel, all of which she loved to 'spoil' with cookies and snacks! Also surviving is her brother, Steve (Cheryll) Benefield; nephew, Tyler; and sister, Lisa.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Isaac and Jean Rose Benefield; brother, Larry; grandparents, Lexie Brewster, Besse and Ollie Walls; and son-in-law, Ryan Herzig.
Born on September 8, 1950 she grew up in Ann Arbor and Belleville, Michigan, and saved by the Lord at the age of seven years old. Mary began her full and exciting life, enjoying being in an award-winning Belleville High School band which performed at both U of M stadium and at a Detroit Lions game. She graduated high school in 1968 before attending Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC and Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, MI, where she got her "MRS." Degree (as she lovingly called it) in 1971, when she married Dave after a whirlwind proposal on their second date. (She always jokingly said, "It might not last !!"). Her family was her most prized accomplishment making sure they all stayed together with family functions and super fun Halloween and Christmas parties and Easter egg hunts. She talked always to others of her amazing kids and grandkids.
Mary was a voracious reader of novels and her bible and loved to do crossword puzzles, but most of all spoiling her grandchildren/great-grandchild. Mary and Dave were blessed to travel and vacation in many fun places during their wonderful marriage, including spots like Grand Canyon, seashores in Maine, Mohawk Mountain House, New York City, 'Little House on the Prairie' site in Minnesota, Badlands of North Dakota, the Grand Hotel in Michigan, and Disney Land and Disney World where she loved staying at the Grand Floridian Resort (she was the queen of ordering in room gift baskets!). Mary also loved playing golf and watching Lion's games with her husband Dave, and a little fishing with her grandchildren when she could, using her 'special bait' of Twizzlers bits. Another favorite pastime was feeding the sea gulls and watching deer roam around at Maumee Bay State Park, and rooting for her beloved Michigan Wolverines.
Mary was a fun and lively person to those who knew her, and she could make friends instantly with strangers that she met in life, even making life brighter for workers and patients with her unplanned piano recitals during her short stay at a nursing home following a spinal surgery, including making one special new friend in particular- Nancy, along with her longtime best friends Juanita, Sue, Kay and Darlene.
Mary loved working with kids her entire life, serving as a teacher aide to special needs children for six years at Oregon schools, plus mentoring/tutoring kids and adults to read with the Right to Read Literacy Program, teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School plus directing children's Christmas programs at church. She had worked at home for B&F Medical while raising her family, and later assisting the elderly with Home Alone Services of Toledo.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at the Eggleston Meinert & Pavley Funeral Home, Oregon Chapel, 440 S. Coy Rd., Oregon, Ohio from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held Friday, March 29, 2024 at Hope Baptist Church, 6250 South Ave, Toledo, OH 43615 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, located on Brown Road between Decant and Cousino.