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 Magdelin 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 gluten 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/or leave condolences on Mary's guestbook
on her tribute wall.