Mary Garvey Tafelski

Mary Garvey Tafelski , 87 years, of Waterville, passed away peacefully with her family at her side on December 1, 2010. Mary and her twin bother Kay were born on July 10,1923 in LaCrosse, WI to Frank and Elizabeth Garvey. Mary grew up on a Fox Ranch in rural Wisconsin where she had an idyllic childhood, complete with dogs, ponies, a one room school house and a swimming hole. Mary left home at 14 to attend St. Clara Academy in Sinsinawa, WI. She then attended the College of St. Teresa in Winona, MN and graduated in 1945 with a BA in Sociology. Working for Catholic Charities brought her to Toledo where she met James Tafelski whom she married January 3rd, 1948. She left social work to undertake the job she loved best, full time wife and mother. Mary and Jim raised six children, Therese {Ned} Coyle, Thomas J.{Sharon} Tafelski DO, James G. {LuAnn} Tafelski, Marilyn {John} Romaker, Elizabeth {William} Anderson and Joseph F. Tafelski. Mary knew that raising her family was her true calling and she excelled at her vocation. The door to her home in the Old West End was always open to the neighborhood kids who would suffer scrapes and cuts from playing sand lot baseball, fall football or winter hockey in the side yard across from the Cathedral where she attended Mass daily. Mary's kitchen was always filled with heavenly scented aromas of home made sweet rolls in the morning, hot school lunches for her family at noon and evening dinners but never to be consumed without Thanks to the One from whom all blessings come. Mary was a gracious and welcoming hostess, a superb cook and a baker without peer, one taste of her apple pie and you were spoiled for life. When her eldest, Therese, left home to be married in 1971 she made sure her progeny would never forget the love, strength and support that only family can provide, and to that end she hosted Sunday dinner, every Sunday of every week of every year going on 40 years. It is a tradition and privilege that continues to this day and to which her surviving family shall continue so that they in turn can pass on to another generation the values of love and family and faith that she embodied. Mary lived her beloved Catholic faith daily and held a special devotion to the Virgin Mary. She dutifully served others before herself with a smile and a glad heart throughout her lifetime. Upon moving the family to Waterville in 1976 she was a fixture at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Maumee for over thirty years both as a parishioner and a volunteer. The responsibilities of the Ladies Rosary Alter Society, Eucharistic ministry, tending to the flowers at the Blessed Virgin statue, wedding coordination, funeral luncheon team and Adoration Chapel worship gave her great fulfillment as did celebrating daily mass with her equally devoted circle of parish friends. Their regular post Mass gatherings for coffee or breakfast were dearly relished over the years and missed by Mary during her illness. Mary was an enthusiastic outdoorswoman who had a passion for life and physical activity that included water aerobics three days a week, tending and growing beautiful roses, working tirelessly in her yard and walking her beloved dog Shannon along the Maumee River. She was a longtime member of The Profit and Pleasure Society of Waterville, Mobile Meals volunteer, happily prepared and served meals with AGAPE of St Joe's Maumee, served in St. Luke's Eucharistic ministry and was a driver for the visually impaired at the Sight Center for many year and enthusiastically discussed daily current event issues and topics with her close friend and neighbor Phyllis Henry. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Jim, brothers Reverend Francis J. Garvey MM, Bernard (Theresa) Garvey, Tom (Monda) Garvey. She is survived by her sisters, Sister Stephena (Therese) Garvey of the Order of Dominican Sisters and Margaret (Lucien) Nedzi, and by brothers Lawrence (Patricia) Garvey and Cornelius (Patricia) Garvey. She was the adored and adoring Grandmother to James and Katharine Tafelski, Calvin Romaker and Kane, Madeline, Mary Charlotte and Liam Anderson. As grandchildren are, they were a joy beyond measure. Friends may call at the Coyle Funeral Home, 1770 S. Reynolds Rd., Sunday December 5th from 2-8 p.m. where at Rosary service will be held at 7 p.m. The funeral will begin in the mortuary Monday at 9:15 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Our Lady, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Cathedral at 10 a.m. Interment St. Joseph’s Cemetery. The family requests contribution remembrances to the St Joseph's Maumee Campus Improvement Campaign Fund with donations to be used specifically towards the building of a new Perpetual Adoration Chapel which was so close to her heart from its inception and where she spent many contented hours praying for others, or AGAPE of St Joseph's Maumee.

Mary Garvey Tafelski

July 10, 1923 - December 1, 2010