Mary Katherine LeBourdais

Mary Katherine Lebourdais, 76 of Frederic, passed away at home on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. Known to most as Mary Kay, and "Boo" to her family and closest friends, she battled cancer for three years, with grace and dignity, guided by her faith, with the support and love of her family and friends.

Born in Detroit on January 13, 1949, she grew up in Grosse Pointe and graduated from Bishop Gallagher High School in Harper Woods.

Mary Kay received her bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from Mercy College of Detroit. She attended Eastern Michigan University where she pursued postgraduate studies in food & nutrition and higher education.

On her birthday, January 13, 1974, in an elevator at Mercy College, Mary Kay met Ronald A. LeBourdais. This meeting began a relationship that led to their marriage in Detroit on January 24, 1976. Throughout their almost 50-year marriage, they have been inseparable, together in their blended family, their faith, and their volunteer work. Mary Kay and Ron lived briefly in Dearborn before moving to Livonia, where they lived until they both retired and moved to their Guthrie Lakes home in Frederic.

Mary Kay worked as an adjunct instructor at Eastern Michigan University in the HECR Department. As owner of MKL Inc, she provided hospitality management consulting services. She worked as General Manager of Dining Services at Michigan Bell headquarters in Detroit and later retired after several years of service as Director of District Food Services at Van Buren Public Schools, a district of 6,000 students.

Because Ron had served in the United States Navy, he and Mary Kay have been longtime active members of Veterans of Foreign Wars. Mary Kay was a lifetime member of the VFW Auxiliary holding several positions with Ralph Holewinski VFW Post #1518 in Gaylord, including Senior Vice-President, and until recently, President.

She was past President of International Food Service Executives of Detroit, and past Midwest District President, and a member of American School Food Service Association and American School Business Officials.

Mary Kay was a faithful member of St. Mary Cathedral in Gaylord, the Cathedral Choir, and the Diocesan Celebrations Choir.

As a supporter of their Guthrie Lakes community, she was a member of their homeowner’s association, E.F.P.O.A., where she was a member of and chairperson of several committees.

She enjoyed her volunteer work, always giving 100% to anything she took on. She enjoyed hook rug projects and loved music. She played ukelele and sang with a foursome folk group, The Soft Touch, in college and afterwards at many weddings.

Mary Kay is survived by Ron, her husband of almost 50 years; their children, Rachelle Truax , Russell (Michele) LeBourdais, Robyn Roths, Ronald (Jeanette) LeBourdais, Richard LeBourdais, and Renee (Jeff) Stern; grandchildren, Lucas LeBourdais, Lauren LeBourdais, Adam Truax, Hanna Truax, Anna LeBourdais, Emily Smith Bruno (A.J.), Riley Smith, and Connor Stern; great grandchildren, Brayden Honeycutt, and Gabriella Wrubel.

Also surviving are her siblings, Douglas (Linda) Salerno, and Diana Swanson; sisters-in-law Donna Salerno, and Kay Vedder; brother-in-law, Cal Vedder; nieces and nephews, David Salerno (Katie), Susan Salerno Andreeff (Steve), Matthew Szalach (Kathy), Tom Szalach (Kristina), Corrie Salerno, Christina Salerno, Stephen Wright (Mandy), Charles Vedder, Michael Vedder, David Vedder (Linda), Daniel Vedder, Steve Vedder, Kevin Vedder (Jenna), Megan Vedder Brule', Shannon Vedder; and numerous grand nieces and nephews.

Mary Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Salvatore and Kathryn Salerno, her brothers, Joseph and Michael Salerno; brothers-in-law, Ray Swanson, William Vedder, Gary Vedder; and sister-in-law, Kathleen Vedder Brule'.

Mary Kay's family will visit with friends from 4:00-7:00 PM Friday, October 31, 2025, at Gaylord Community Funeral Home & Cremation Service, followed by a VFW Auxiliary memorial service at 7:00 PM.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, November 1, 2025, at St. Mary Cathedral in Gaylord where visitation will begin at 1:00 PM.

Interment will follow later at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield.

Those who wish are asked to consider memorial contributions to Ralph Holewinski VFW Post #1518 Building Fund, 1905 S. Otsego Avenue, Gaylord, MI 49735.