Mary
L. Jelinek
Died
Nov 2, 2019
GILLS PIER – Mary Louise Jelinek, 98, of Gills Pier, passed away
Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019 at home surrounded by her loving family.
Mary was born Oct. 28, 1921 in Lansing Michigan, the daughter of Basil and Louise (Harris) Brady. On Oct. 9, 1954 at the Church of the Resurrection in Lansing she married Martin Thomas Jelinek who preceded her in death on July 28, 2011.
Mary was a graduate of Lansing Eastern High School in 1939. She attended Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) until she was old enough to enter nurses training at the Saint Lawrence School of Nursing in Lansing, where she received her RN degree in 1943.
In October 1943, she entered active duty during WWII with the US Army Nurse Corps, and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant assigned to the 98th Evacuation Hospital. She underwent basic training in Arizona. The 98th Evacuation Hospital personnel were transferred to the 105th Evacuation Hospital. Nurses crossed the Atlantic Ocean aboard the Queen Elizabeth troop ship, boarded a LST to cross the English Chanel and stepped on the sands of Omaha Beach four months after D-Day. Service in the European Theater of Operations took the 105th across France, Belgium, Holland and Germany following our troops.
In addition to caring for the wounded US and allied troops, the nurses took care of POW patients (captured German officers and soldiers). Mary was advanced in rank to 1st Lieutenant. In January 1946, 1st Lieutenant Brady was honorably discharged after her service in the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns. She earned the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and Honorable Service lapel button WWII.
After her WWII service Mary continued her nursing career at Hines Veterans Hospital in Chicago, St. Anne’s Hospital in Juneau, Alaska, Munson Hospital (now Munson Medical Center), Dr Beall and Dr Weih Eye Clinic (now GTOC). She retired from Leelanau Memorial Hospital in Northport.
Mary loved and delighted in celebrating her Irish heritage. She enjoyed big band music, jazz and blues and theatrical performances. Her hobbies included a variety of arts & crafts, playing cards and she was an avid reader. She and Martin loved dancing and enjoyed traveling across the country and internationally. They treasured wintering in Punta Gorda, Florida. Always an adventurous spirit; Mary went parasailing in her 70’s and into her 80’s!
Mary was a member of the Little Finger VFW Post 7731 in Lake Leelanau, Club 21 in Omena and Internationally Yours. She volunteered for the American Red Cross, American Cancer Society and the Leelanau Historical Society. Mary was a long time parishioner of St. Wenceslaus Church of Gills Pier where she had served as a lector and a member of the altar society.
Mary was an amazing and loving mother and grandmother; the heart of her family. She was a woman of deep faith, held a strong work ethic, was fun-loving, an awesome cook who loved trying new recipes, a wonderful role model to her family, a mentor to many nurses and an inspiration to the many lives she touched.
Mary is survived by her children, Marcia (Hal) LaForest, Sally Jelinek, Geralyn Jelinek, Susan Jelinek and Martin G. (Susan G.) Jelinek; a brother, William P. (Barbara) Brady; grandchildren, Kristina (Allen Chen), Melissa, Sara and Matthew Jelinek. Also surviving are many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and cherished friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Martin, her siblings, Bert E. Brady, John H. (Margaret) Brady, Alice J. Brady and her sisters-in-law Cecilia and Mary.
Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. with the Rosary to be prayed at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7 at St. Wenceslaus Church. Burial with military honors at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery will follow the Mass. Father Michael Class, SJ will serve as celebrant.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider memorials directed to: St. Wenceslaus Church, 8500 E. Kolarik Road, Suttons Bay, MI 49682-9334; Mass intentions; VFW Post #7731, 7475 E. Duck Lake Road, Lake Leelanau MI 49653; Heartland Hospice, 4020 Copper View, Suite 113, Traverse City, MI 49684-7041 or the charity of your choice.
Mary’s family expresses their sincere thanks to the dedicated staffs of Heartland Hospice and Chronic Care Management for attentive care and concern for Mary.
Mary was born Oct. 28, 1921 in Lansing Michigan, the daughter of Basil and Louise (Harris) Brady. On Oct. 9, 1954 at the Church of the Resurrection in Lansing she married Martin Thomas Jelinek who preceded her in death on July 28, 2011.
Mary was a graduate of Lansing Eastern High School in 1939. She attended Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) until she was old enough to enter nurses training at the Saint Lawrence School of Nursing in Lansing, where she received her RN degree in 1943.
In October 1943, she entered active duty during WWII with the US Army Nurse Corps, and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant assigned to the 98th Evacuation Hospital. She underwent basic training in Arizona. The 98th Evacuation Hospital personnel were transferred to the 105th Evacuation Hospital. Nurses crossed the Atlantic Ocean aboard the Queen Elizabeth troop ship, boarded a LST to cross the English Chanel and stepped on the sands of Omaha Beach four months after D-Day. Service in the European Theater of Operations took the 105th across France, Belgium, Holland and Germany following our troops.
In addition to caring for the wounded US and allied troops, the nurses took care of POW patients (captured German officers and soldiers). Mary was advanced in rank to 1st Lieutenant. In January 1946, 1st Lieutenant Brady was honorably discharged after her service in the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns. She earned the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and Honorable Service lapel button WWII.
After her WWII service Mary continued her nursing career at Hines Veterans Hospital in Chicago, St. Anne’s Hospital in Juneau, Alaska, Munson Hospital (now Munson Medical Center), Dr Beall and Dr Weih Eye Clinic (now GTOC). She retired from Leelanau Memorial Hospital in Northport.
Mary loved and delighted in celebrating her Irish heritage. She enjoyed big band music, jazz and blues and theatrical performances. Her hobbies included a variety of arts & crafts, playing cards and she was an avid reader. She and Martin loved dancing and enjoyed traveling across the country and internationally. They treasured wintering in Punta Gorda, Florida. Always an adventurous spirit; Mary went parasailing in her 70’s and into her 80’s!
Mary was a member of the Little Finger VFW Post 7731 in Lake Leelanau, Club 21 in Omena and Internationally Yours. She volunteered for the American Red Cross, American Cancer Society and the Leelanau Historical Society. Mary was a long time parishioner of St. Wenceslaus Church of Gills Pier where she had served as a lector and a member of the altar society.
Mary was an amazing and loving mother and grandmother; the heart of her family. She was a woman of deep faith, held a strong work ethic, was fun-loving, an awesome cook who loved trying new recipes, a wonderful role model to her family, a mentor to many nurses and an inspiration to the many lives she touched.
Mary is survived by her children, Marcia (Hal) LaForest, Sally Jelinek, Geralyn Jelinek, Susan Jelinek and Martin G. (Susan G.) Jelinek; a brother, William P. (Barbara) Brady; grandchildren, Kristina (Allen Chen), Melissa, Sara and Matthew Jelinek. Also surviving are many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and cherished friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Martin, her siblings, Bert E. Brady, John H. (Margaret) Brady, Alice J. Brady and her sisters-in-law Cecilia and Mary.
Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. with the Rosary to be prayed at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 7 at St. Wenceslaus Church. Burial with military honors at St. Wenceslaus Cemetery will follow the Mass. Father Michael Class, SJ will serve as celebrant.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider memorials directed to: St. Wenceslaus Church, 8500 E. Kolarik Road, Suttons Bay, MI 49682-9334; Mass intentions; VFW Post #7731, 7475 E. Duck Lake Road, Lake Leelanau MI 49653; Heartland Hospice, 4020 Copper View, Suite 113, Traverse City, MI 49684-7041 or the charity of your choice.
Mary’s family expresses their sincere thanks to the dedicated staffs of Heartland Hospice and Chronic Care Management for attentive care and concern for Mary.
Please share condolences with Mary’s family below or at our funeral home Facebook page:
I was so surprised to read about your mom... My mom spoke of Mary many times over the years. Not only did they marry in the same church, they were nursing students together. I'm sorry I didn't get ahold of her these years since my mom passed away...
ReplyDeleteCathy Paulos Buchan
A nursing mentor indeed! Mary provided this new grad with a solid nursing role model-heavy with compassion and common sense. Wish I had known of her extensive service abroad. Did appreciate her ‘bath tub Kaluah’ recipe. Her spirit will be missed.
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