Mary Alice Cunningham

We are not meant to live our lives on our own. We have been given friends, neighbors, and family with whom to help and struggle through our lives. Mary Cunningham not only knew the truth of relying on her friends and family and allowing them to do the same, but she enjoyed it. With a social and amiable spirit, simply being in Mary's presence could bring you certain joy.

In the year 1924, amidst the economic boom of the decade, New York's Computer Tabulating Company was restructured and given the name that we now recognize as IBM. Also in New York, the Thanksgiving of 1924 was the first to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade proceed through the streets of Manhattan. For all the Disney lovers, Walt produced his first cartoon called, "Alice's Wonderland." None of these things were really of much relative importance for Paul and Lois (West) Nordman, though, compared to their anticipation of the arrival of their fourth child. On the cold winter day of December 12, 1924, Mary Alice was born into this world.

Mary grew up in a "traditional" household and Catholic family. Her mother stayed home and took care of the house and the children, her father went to work on the railroad as well as farming asparagus and grapes. When Mary was about 10 years old, her father purchased a farm and moved the family out to Lawton. Mary and her bothers and sister, Eugene, George, Paul and Shirley all learned how to and were required to work on the farm and around the house growing up. The boys worked on the farm and in the vineyard, while the girls helped their mother clean and cook. However, the whole family worked in the fields together when harvest time came around. Mary was always particularly close to her brother Paul, and sister Shirley in childhood and through life.

At the young age of seventeen, Mary met the man who would be the love of her life through some mutual friends. Falling deeply in love with each other, Robert Cunningham received Mary's hand in holy marriage. The couple began married life in Paw Paw, but soon moved to Kalamazoo when they began their family.

Mary was a fantastic wife and a terrific mother. With her mother as the role model from whom she learned what it means to be a homemaker, Mary made living for her boys the focus of her life. LeRoy, Robert Jr., and Alan were never without the presence of their mother as she stayed home to make sure that they had a warm, loving, and clean home for their adolescence and youth. Mary was not one for clutter therefore always kept her house clean and organized. If something new was purchased it was almost always in replacement of something else. Mary's clutter free house meant the boys were expected to keep their own rooms straightened as well.

Mary was a wonderful cook and never let her family go without a delicious meal. Each week, Sunday meant attending St. Mary's Catholic church in the morning, followed by a big Sunday dinner for the entire Cunningham clan in the evening. In all things, Mary gave her life for the well-being of the four men of her life.

Even after having children Mary and Robert were very intentional about spending time together and keeping their love kindled. Once a week they would have a night out on the town with friends for dinner and dancing. They both truly loved their nights together. As they left for the night however, they would give the boys some cash for pizza or a burger or such. But rarely did the money get spent on food. They usually went out to play pinball and just raided the cupboards when they got back home from an evening of fun of their own.

All three of Mary's boys attended Catholic schools. Mary was active with the Wednesday ladies lunch group who got together to make sloppy-joes for the kids at school. She was also close with many of the neighborhood mothers. On regular occasion, after gathering for coffee in the morning they would prepare a pancake feast for all the children of the neighborhood.

There was no chance of missing the family vacation each summer. Every year the five of them would travel north into Canada's wilderness where they would camp and fish for two weeks together. This was a time that was very special to each of them, when they simply enjoyed being in each other's company.

When the boys were taken care of and Mary took some time for herself, she had an affection for a number of different things. She loved to work with ceramics and reading magazines, which included the Enquirer. When it came to television, she preferred cooking shows and her particular soap opera she chose to follow. Mary also enjoyed listening to the radio and socializing with friends while playing cards - most often the games 31 or Blitz. She was a member of the Red Hat Society and always had a little pet dog until recently. Mary never learned to drive a car - which was much to the safety and benefit for others on the road, her boys like to joke.

As we come to the end of someone's life, we must remember that those we love are never really lost to us whether separated by distance or death. The memory of infinite motherly love, the recollection of smiles in the morning, and the knowledge of compassion that warmed the hearts of grandchildren and great-grandchildren alike, can bridge any separation. With open hearts we can see that the special love of Mary Cunningham lives on.

Mary Alice Cunningham of Kalamazoo died on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 at Rose Arbor Hospice. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert Cunningham; and her son, LeRoy. Mary's family includes two sons: Robert Cunningham Jr. of Kalamazoo , and Alan (Kathleen) Cunningham of Schoolcraft, along with nine grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may spend time with the Cunningham Family on Friday, February 3, 2006 from 4:00-8:00 PM at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler & Thompson, Paw Paw 60900 M-40, where a Celebration of Life Service will be held the following day, Saturday, February 4, 2006 at 11:00 AM. Please visit Mary's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a favorite memory, order flowers or make memorial contributions to Rose Arbor Hospice.