Mary Ann Arvo (88) of Suttons Bay passed away on May 11, 2024.
She was born on December 7, 1935 in Alston, Michigan to her parents Waino and Aune Pirhonen. She loved learning, so she started school when she was only 4. She completed 1st and 2nd grades simultaneously and went off to Northern Michigan University at the age of 16.
While attending NMU, she met her husband, Gary. Soon after completing her Bachelors in elementary education, she was married on June 9, 1956, at St. Henry Lutheran Church in Nisula, Michigan. Together they started a family. Jennifer arrived in 1958, Roger in 1959 and Julie in 1961. While raising three little kids she also worked on her Master’s degree, which she earned in 1965. Her educational journey also took her to teaching positions in Janesville, Wisconsin and Mount Clemens, Michigan.
She enjoyed travelling and camping with Gary, family, and friends. She was able to visit five of the continents. She also enjoyed walking, knitting, sewing, quilting, being a Girl Scout leader, writing letters, and sending cards to family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Gary in 2012. She is survived by her sister, Nancy Kaupila, and her children, Jennifer (Mark) Walsh, Roger (Kate) Arvo, and Julie (Bob) MacKenzie, 6 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, and 10 nieces and nephews, and 15 grandnieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held on June 3, 1:00 pm at Immanual Lutheran Church in Suttons Bay.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Leelanau Conservancy or Suttons Bay Bingham District Library.
Her spirit of generosity and compassion will be forever remembered. She will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.
