Mary Lauretta Suiter

Mary Lauretta (Tiernan) Suiter
April 3, 1941 – October 17, 2025
Mary Lauretta (née Tiernan) Suiter, 84, of Woodhaven, Michigan, formerly of Melvindale, passed away on October 17, 2025, after a courageous battle with dementia. She was born on April 3, 1941, in Granger, Iowa, the eldest child of Bill and Henrietta Tiernan.
Her early years were spent attending Assumption Catholic School which was across the street from her home on Sycamore Street. She always joked that she graduated at the top of her class, knowing that she graduated in a class of 14 people. She helped her mom raise her younger 8 siblings and would stay at local farms helping aunts and uncles raise their children. She was offered acceptance to the University of Iowa where she planned to become a nurse but ultimately declined to stay at home and help her family. She worked at Des Moines Golf & Country Club and in office jobs after high school.
At the young age of 19 she was introduced, by mutual friends, to a young man from Oskaloosa, Iowa who was working in Des Moines and attending night school for college. After a whirlwind romance, J. Michael Suiter asked her to marry and on the one-year anniversary of their first date on June 4th they were married at the age of 20. An interesting fact about Mary and Mike is that they shared a birthday, April 3rd.
On December of 1962, they welcomed their first child Jeffrey Michael. Their family continued to grow in December of 1964 they welcomed their first daughter, Michelle Rene, and in September 1966 the young family grew by one more when Tamara Marie was born. Not being a couple to give up and wanting to even out their family they were "surprised" to have the fourth and final child in December of 1970, Michael Christopher.
In 1972, Mary and her husband John Michael Suiter relocated their young family from Iowa to Michigan for a job opportunity with Ford Motor Company. Mary would tell stories of what it was like to grow up in a town of 400 and move to the big city known as Melvindale. She dove in headfirst and found St. Conrad's Church where she was active until it was closed in 2008. During her time at St. Conrad's, Mary taught Religious Education, performed lecturing duties, sang in the choir and was a member and President of the Parish Council. Church was where she found her new friends that became family and dove in with everything she could give while raising her family. After St. Conrad's closed, she and Mike moved to St. Mary Magdalen where she continued to be an active member till her illness didn't allow her to participate. One of her proudest moments in service to the church, was the opportunity to sing for Pope John Paul II when he traveled to Detroit in September of 1987. Mary's faith was unbreakable, and she was proud of her Catholic Roots.
Mary was also active in many civic organizations. She was the founding member of the Democratic Club of Melvindale and always participated in Civil Duties like elections, was a precinct delegate (My dad wrote her name in, and she won with only 1 vote), and participated in all her husband's political endeavors, whether she wanted to or not. Painting signs, handing out literature, and working the polls, she was always by his side remembering her vow although she had seen one too many election cycles. She knew her husband wanted to serve, and her kids joked that she was typically more electable than him. Later in life she was very active in the Kiwanis Club of Melvindale and organized Safety Town for kids and tirelessly gave to the Key Club. K-Kids, and Builders Club. She was awarded the prestigious Hixson Award in 2008 by the Kiwanis Club for her achievement in raising money for kids.
Mary also had many social organizations that she loved to participate in. She loved to attend functions at the Gaelic League and was a long-time member of the Downriver Irish American Club. Some of our greatest memories as a family are attending the yearly Detroit St. Patrick's Day Parade. In the early days we would march as a family with our Irish Setter, smartly named "Red". And later in life she would attend with Grandkids, Kids & their spouses and friends. Mary always loved a good party and
enjoyed a good cold beer, some dancing, and a lot of laughs.
She didn't only volunteer in Civic, Church and Social groups, Mary dedicated more than twenty years working at Giovanni's Restaurant in Detroit, where she became a beloved and familiar face to countless patrons. With her trademark humor and sparkle, she often joked that she had "waited tables at the Last Supper." Her warmth, genuineness, and bright personality brought many repeat customers who became like family. Her gift for hospitality extended beyond the restaurant; whether hosting a Sunday dinner or greeting neighbors, Mary made everyone feel welcome and valued. When the legs started to give out and she couldn't serve tables any longer, she gave up her waitress shoes for a 10 key calculator and tax law working for 15 plus years at H&R Block. She didn't rush through the clients which cost her money. She would catch up on her repeat client family, health concerns, and financial problems, taking them to heart and lending a helping hand and at a minimum a hug.
Mary loved sports, especially her beloved Iowa Hawkeyes and Detroit Tigers. You could find her glued to her T.V. on Saturday or the randomly televised baseball game. She would watch March Madness throughout her life often recalling the great run of Drake University made in 1969 where they lost to UCLA coached by John Wooden and had Lew Alcindor. She also attended her kids' sporting events, cheerleading, and band functions cheering louder than anyone else in the stands. Into her 70's Mary would attend her grandson's basketball, baseball, and football games. She was once nearly thrown out of a game of her grandson for screaming at the referee to "Call the Damn Foul" during a Catholic Youth League game. She loved the Lord, but she also liked some good, fair competition.
"Where words fail, music speaks is a famous quote by Lefty Fretz and that quote is fitting for Mary. She loved all types of music and loved to dance. She was star struck in the early 1970's to share a plane ride with the Jackson 5. Loved all types of music, except her youngest son's taste in Rap Music (she would still tap her foot). Her home was filled with music and in her final hours her family had a playlist of her favorites. She would jam out to Tina Turner's, "Proud Mary" and would reenact Aretha Franklin singing "Respect" at family weddings. She would dance with her sister's to "We are Family" and "Celebration". She would even attend her two sons' attempt at rock stardom when they would perform at Open Mic Nights (She was glutton for punishment). Her favorites were Barbra Streisand, Sandi Patty, Celtic Women, The Irish Tenors, and John Denver. The memories of her and dad dancing to "Evergreen" by Barbara Streisand will remain forever.
Mary was also big on adventure and travel. Her young family would often make weekend and holiday runs to Iowa after her husband got done working afternoons. Her kids thought they traveled overnight so they didn't have to listen to them complain and whine about the long trip. After Mike retired from Ford Motor Company, they traveled to Ireland multiple times, Rome, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and The Holy Land and they spent several winters living in Costa Rica with one of her High School classmates and his wife. While in Costa Rica, instead of "living high on the hog" they would live in shacks without roofs in fishing villages and immerse themselves in the culture and people. On their last trip to Costa Rica, they brought the village Fish Finders, so they were more efficient. Even after her husband's death, she traveled to Budapest and did a Viking Cruise down the Rhine. In 2017 she treated her kids and their spouses to a week trip to Ireland complete with air fare and private touring van stocked with Guiness. Although the signs of Dementia were already present it was one of her proudest moments and a true blessing to experience together as a family.
Although this may be the longest obituary in history, one cannot wrap up her story without talking about her love of family and what hers meant to her. She could laugh just about anything off, except when it came to her family. She was the protector, guardian, and matriarch. In good times and in bad times, she was there. Sometimes she would provide the most remarkable hug in support and other times she would tell you to "pick up your lip, before you step on it" when you needed to toughen up. Her family dinner was epic, and Sundays were for "Mom". Her kids were #1 until she had grandkids (an ultimately Great Grand Kids). Meghan and Ashley were staples at Grandma's house and they were the apple of her eye. The world revolved around her Grandkids. Family wasn't only blood; it was the neighborhood kids that needed a place to stay or food to eat. Her house sometimes mimicked an orphanage and food hall.
She was extremely proud of each of her brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews (including spouses) and just the mention of any of them would instantly change her mood, facial expression, and she would stick her chest in the air with pride (her kids called it Tits Up). There was nothing more important to her than family. She was our biggest supporter, cheerleader and defender telling us that there was more to do.
"Dementia Sucks" is a common statement from her kids and grandkids. It was tough to watch her mind go over time, then stealing her ability to move and speak. One of the things she did in the last two years was recite Hail Mary. Sometimes 200-300 times per day. There may be a logical explanation to her prayer based on her disease, but we believe that it was her faith and love of Mary asking for her intercession. Her faith in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit to help ease her suffering. When she couldn't complete the prayer, she tended to say "Hail Mary full of Ice Cream" which helped us to laugh and know that Dementia was winning in the moment. But now she is at peace and although we will miss her, we are blessed to have shared in her life and to be a part of her family. Mary was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John Michael Suiter (2014), and her parents, Bill and Henrietta Tiernan. She leaves behind her children: Jeffrey (Mary) Suiter, Michelle (David) Angileri, Tamara (Kevin) McGuckin, and Michael (Brenda) Suiter; grandchildren Meghan (Antionne) Murray, Ashley (Michael) Sertle, Dakota (Andrew) Popp, Noah, Hunter, and Riley Angileri, Joseph and Jack Suiter; five great- grandchildren River, Rowan, Sawyer, Dawson and Aria; and her siblings Kay Jinks, Donna (Steve) Daffron, Carol Short, Fred Tiernan, Dick (Ali) Tiernan, Leona Rodgers, Melvin aka Opie (Phyllis) Tiernan, and Dennis (Rosemary) Tiernan. She is also survived by 18 loving nieces and nephews who she loved dearly. She is also survived by in family by marriage including Janet Rozenboom, Steven (Kathy) Suiter, and Robert (Mary Ann) Suiter and 7 nieces and nephews.
Mary will be remembered for her humor, her generosity, her devotion to family, and her lifelong commitment to community. She touched countless lives with her kindness, her laughter, and her ability to make everyone feel like part of her family.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Melvindale Safety Town. Checks can be made out to Melvindale Safety Town and mailed to 18656 Prospect Melvindale, Michigan 48122 attn: Melvindale Safety Town. For more information Please email melvindaesafetytown@yahoo.com or contact Mary DePalma @ 313-268-3558
Memorial Visitation Friday, October 24, 2025 from 2:00-8:00 p.m. with a Celebration of Life at 6:30 p.m. at the Allen Park Chapel of Voran Funeral Home, 5900 Allen Rd. (313) 928-2300. Memorial service Saturday 12:00 p.m. to follow at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 19624 Wood St, Melvindale. Please share memories and leave condolences on Mary's guestbook on her tribute wall.