Evelyn Mae McNamara
Eaton Rapids
Passed away Wednesday, March 19, 2008, Evelyn Mae McNamara 83, of Eaton Rapids, at the Mid-Michigan Hospice House in Lansing. Evelyn was born on July 25, 1924, the 3rd child of Edward and Eva (Morin) Lancour of Osier, in Michiganâ??s Upper Peninsula. As a child she lived in logging camps and later helped out in the family grocery store. In 1946, Evelyn married Martin Francis McNamara also from the Upper Peninsula. Martin and Evelyn spent their lives and raised their family in Eaton Rapids. Evelynâ??s strength of character and sense of humor were infused in her commitment to her children and family. Evelynâ??s hobbies included knitting, crocheting and reading. Evelyn always thought the best of people and brought out the best in them. Evelyn was a member of the St. Peter Holy Catholic Church and a long-time active member of St. Peterâ??s Altar Society. She was a 30-year volunteer at the St. Vincent DePaul clothing bank of Eaton Rapids, in fact, she and several other women organized the clothing bank which allowed hundreds of women and children to go to school and go to work with dignity. Evelyn was preceded in death by a daughter, Rhea Ann Seeley; Evelynâ??s first husband, Kenneth Rabideau, who was killed in action in WWII; and brothers, Stanley and Maurice. Surviving are her loving and devoted husband of 62 years, Martin McNamara and 16 children, Gary (Julie), Patrick (Carol) all of Eaton Rapids, Lynn â??Chickâ? (Herb) Blue of Spring Lake, Larry (Sue) of Englewood, FL, Joseph of Coral, Mitch (Helen) of Eaton Rapids, Nan (Jerry) Holden of Bannister, Robert of Nashville, TN, Kathleen â??Kittyâ? (Mike) Green of Beaver Island, Peggy Wilcox of Petoskey, Mary McNamara of Nashville, TN, Susie (Floyd) Baker of Ionia, Chris of Bradenton, FL,Vince (Kim) of Muskegon, Theo of Anchorage, AK and Steve (Brigid) of Harper Woods; son-in-law, Mike Seeley of Kentwood; 27 grandchildren, 16 great-grand children, numerous nieces and nephews; siblings, Helen Lustik, Joyce Bartlett, Nellrae St. Onge, Roger (Joyce) Lancour, Gerald (Vernice) Lancour and Sharon (John) Bates. Mass of the Christian Burial will be prayed 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 24, 2008, at St. Peter Holy Catholic Church, 515 E. Knight, Eaton Rapids, with Father Bennett Constantine as Celebrant and interment will follow at Rosehill Cemetery. The family will receive friends and family on Saturday from 2-4 p.m. at Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, 518 S. Main, Eaton Rapids, on Sunday at the Church from 5-7p.m. with a Rosary following at 7:00 p.m., and one hour prior to the service on Monday. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the St. Peter Church Building Fund or St. Vincent de Paul, St Peterâ??s Conference in memory of Evelyn McNamara. www.shellyodell.com
Kitty's mom
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