Mary A. (Quaal) Lynch

Mary was born in Ishpeming, Michigan, January 31, 1930, to Rudolph and Adele Quaal, the third of twelve children. She took pride in caring for her younger siblings and spoke so many times of shining their shoes, we could not leave this out of her obituary. She sewed a special graduation dress for her dear sister, Kathy, and hiked with her siblings to the Al Quaal ski hill. In her youth and throughout her life Mary skied, painted, cooked, sewed, played music on the violin and the baritone horn, enjoyed singing and worked in the family record shop. In all of these small, everyday activities, Mary expressed her love for others and her joy in living. In all of her life, her greatest joy was her children, grandchildren and her new great-grandson.

Mary worked for Michigan Bell Telephone in her 20’s and traveled for the company as a supervisor. It was during these years that Sylvester Neil Lynch stole her heart while singing with her in the Ishpeming Choral Society. They were married May 3, 1958 and spent the majority of their 28 years of married life in Negaunee, Michigan where they raised their children.

As an active member of St. Paul Church, Mary was a room mother extraordinaire for the school, and a CCD instructor exhibiting a soft spot for the students who least wanted to be there. Mary went on to devote a great deal of her time to both RCIA and the Lay Ministry School.

After the loss of her husband, she moved to Marquette and joined St. Michael Parish. She served in many ways, reading at the co-op preschool where she was affectionately named Grama Zoom, reading to the blind, volunteering at St. Vincent de Paul, Beacon House, and Room at the Inn and committing to lifelong friendships with individuals others often overlooked.

Mary maintained her faith and friendships Mary maintained her faith and friendships meeting monthly with the Bell ladies, her childhood neighborhood friends, PEO, and her Ishpeming classmates. She met weekly with her prayer group. These beautiful women shared their hearts and lives and meant the world to Mary.

Mary was preceded in death by her loving husband, S. Neil Lynch; her parents, Rudolph and Adele Quaal; siblings, Albert Quaal, George Quaal, Rudy Quaal, Ruth Bosley, Therese Zahnke, Bernadette Quaal, and Jimmy Quaal.

She is survived by her three children, Neil (Tina) Lynch of Negaunee, MI, Patty (Shawn) Kimber of Marquette, MI, and Ginny (Mark) Laukka of Ashwaubenon, WI; siblings, John (Dolores) Quaal of Pewaukee, WI, Alice (Terry) Hebert of Belton, TX, Joe (Cecelia) Quaal of Maricopa, AZ, and Kathy (Al) Durocher of Ishpeming, MI; brothers-in-law, Arthur Zahnke of Milwaukee, WI, Ray Bosley of Painesdale, MI; sister-in-law, Diane Quaal of Roscommon, MI; grandchildren, Christopher (Erica) Lynch of Oconomowoc, WI, Molly Kimber of Negaunee, MI, Casey Kimber of Marquette, MI, George Kimber of Marquette, MI, Colin Laukka of Milwaukee, WI and Marin Laukka of Bozeman, MT and one great- grandchild, Fletcher Neil Lynch as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to acknowledge the staff of U.P. Home Health and Hospice and thank them for their compassionate care.

Mary’s Funeral Mass is private for family only. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers please consider a gift in Mary’s memory to St. Vincent de Paul or a charity of your choice.

Canale Tonella Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting Mary’s family where memories may be shared at canalefuneral.com.