Mary Lou Birecki
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Mary Lou Birecki, 92, made her way to meet her Savior, on August 22, 2021 at Munson Hospital in Charlevoix.
Mary Lou was born on December 22, 1928, in Wharton, Ohio, the daughter of Leslie and Golda (Kimbrell) Foust. She grew up in Urbana, Ohio.
She married John Sawyer and had three children, Allen, Tom and Joyce. They were happily married until his death in 1965.
Mary Lou married Henry "Hank" Birecki on June 6, 1969. They moved from Ohio to Michigan together in 1972. She worked as a pastry chef at Tyson's in Mackinaw City and was a wonderful baker and cook. She spoiled Hank with homemade polish dishes and all her friends and family with sweets. She liked to garden and took in interest in lapidary, collecting all sorts of rocks and gems. She was a member of the Bliss Bunch, a women's social club in Bliss, Michigan. She was a religious woman and always maintained a close relationship with her God. She will be lovingly remembered for her many hugs and kisses, her generosity and her laughter.
She is survived by her son, Allen (Cherie) Sawyer of Woodstock, OH; daughter, Joyce (Art) Holm of Charlevoix, MI; grandchildren, Todd (Jennifer) Sawyer, Kelly (Steve) Miller, Rebecca (Eric) Olmstead, Leslie (Josh) Boynton, Jennifer Thacker, Dana (Tommy) Tate, and Travis Monroe; many great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; many nieces and nephews; her foster-child, Charlotte Monroe; and her dearest friends, Ruth and Leroy Nestle, Natalie Sevener, and special friend and neighbor, Donna Watkins.
She is preceded in death by her first husband, John Sawyer; their son, Tom Sawyer; her second husband, Hank Birecki; parents, Leslie (Elizabeth) Foust, and Golda Ward; brothers, Jack and Lee Foust; sister, Irene Jones; and by her half siblings, Gail Holbrook and Sonya Sterrett.
A memorial service will be held at Stone Funeral Home on September 1, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. with a one-hour visitation prior to the service. Rev. David Behling will officiate.
A separate service will also be held at Jenkins Chapel Community Church (7016 Urbana Woodstock Rd, Cable, OH 43009) at a later date.
Friends wishing to make a charitable donation in memory of Mary Lou are asked to please consider the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association.