Mary P. Murray

June 27, 1934 - August 28, 2018

Mary was born on June 27, 1934 to Tom and Anne “Daisy” Carty in a house on Concord Street on the east side of Detroit. Tom and Daisy had immigrated to Detroit from Ireland and were married after meeting at the Gaelic League-Irish American Club. Daisy died when Mary was 5 years old and shortly after her death, Tom and Mary moved to Dearborn to live with Tom’s cousin Mike Carty and his wife Mary Jane and their newborn daughter, Judy. Mary Jane and Mike soon welcomed a son Pat followed by another daughter Maureen and although cousins with Mary by birth, Judy, Pat and Maureen became Mary’s sisters and brother and most importantly, lifelong friends.

As a young girl, Mary would accompany her father on monthly Sunday visits to her Mother’s grave in Mt. Elliot Cemetery directly across the street from St. Bonaventure Monastery (commonly known as the Fr. Solanus Center). Her father would send young Mary into the Monastery to get Mass Cards and it was at that time Mary would talk to Fr. Solanus Casey, the Porter of St. Bonaventure. Those encounters with the now Blessed Solanus led to a lifelong connection Mary would have to St. Bonaventure, a place she only referred to as The Monastery. Mary was a lifelong member of the Fr. Solanus Guild and continued those monthly visits to the Monastery her entire life. Her faithfulness to the cause of Fr. Solanus’ Sainthood was a great example to her family who are now lucky to have a connection to Blessed Solanus and the Monastery thanks to their Mother’s example.

Mary graduated from Dearborn Sacred Heart High School in 1952 where she served as Senior Class Secretary. Mary attended Nazareth College near Kalamazoo earning her degree in Education in 1956. Mary taught elementary school in Lincoln Park for a few years before she married Chris Murray on August 19, 1961.

Mary and Chris were blessed with six children in eight years and then in 1977 welcomed her seventh and final child, her namesake, pride and joy, Mary Christine. As if raising seven children wasn’t enough of a full time job, Mary also provided the operational support for the family construction business. Additionally, Mary served as the program manager for the Irish Fireside Radio Show that Chris hosted on WQRS for 12 years from 1968-1980. Every Sunday morning, Mary would sit on the family room floor and compile a list songs that would be used that afternoon on the radio show.

Mary also opened up her home to host extended family members visiting from Ireland and countless musicians who would performed at the Gaelic League and Irish American Club in Detroit. The two most special guests over the years were Mary’s sister-in-law, Margaret Murray and niece Bridget who stayed with Mary and Chris when they immigrated to Detroit from England in 1971. The time Margaret and Bridget stayed with Mary when they first arrived established a very special friendship that spanned 48 years. Mary, Margaret and Bridget shared trips to Mackinaw Island, Niagara Falls and Ireland but their Thursday night dinners at Big Boy’s and then Applebee’s provided very special times for them.

While family was everything to Mary, it came a close second to her faith in God. Over the years her humble faith in God served as the primary source of Mary’s strength and inspiration to be an outstanding wife, mother, sister, aunt, neighbor and friend to countless people. Mary attended daily mass for over 50 years at Dearborn Divine Child where she offered prayers to lift anyone she knew who was in need.

Mary was preceded in death earlier this year by her husband Chris and is survived by her seven children: Tom (Maureen); John (Brenda); Patrick (Terrie); Ann (Anthony) Slusser; Michael (Terri); Maureen (Noel) Kelly; and Mary (Chris) Laney. Chris and Mary were married for 56 years and Mary was a proud grandmother to: Megan (Greg) Hatty, Michelle Murray, Sean Murray, Molly Murray, Brendan Murray, Declan (Kelly) Murray, Emily (Tyler) Joseph, Brigid Murray, Maeve Murray, Christopher Murray, Ciara Murray, Olivia Murray, Conor Murray, Justin Murray, Brendan Slusser, Claire Murray, Katie Slusser, Quinn Murray, Sean Slusser, Liam Kelly, Aidan Slusser, Ellen Laney, Jack Kelly, Niall Laney and Owen Laney; and Great-grandmother to Eleanor and Teddy Hatty. Mary now joins two of her grandchildren, Maeve Murray and Aidan Slusser who despite only living a short time remain in the hearts of the Murray Family as our guardian angels.

Mary was a dear cousin to Judy Carty (Ed Falzon), Pat Carty (Debbie Dunn) and Maureen Carty (Stan Kozlowski) and best friend to sister-in-law Margaret Murray and niece Bridget Murray; also survived by several brother’s and sister’s in-law and countless nieces and nephews.

May Mary rest in her Eternal reward now and forever more with her loving husband Chris. May God reward them for their kindness and generosity throughout their lives.