Mary Catherine Donner
Mary was born January 3, 1932 in Dowagiac, Michigan. She passed away August 2, 2022 in Otsego, Michigan after a long fight with pulmonary fibrosis.<br><br>Ninety years saw Mary through many adventures. A graduate of DHS’s feisty class of 1950, Mary ran through life as an office assistant, a Flying Tiger Line employee and finally at numerous positions for United Airlines where one might hear her say, “You’ll not leave the gate, Captain, until I say it’s time.” <br><br>Mary and other United retiree colleagues might find themselves meeting for lunch in LA, Pittsburgh, or maybe Chicago as they had the added privilege of going anywhere, anytime there was an open seat on a plane. <br>She’s been on a world cruise, visited numerous countries and could boast she’s been to London at least 7 times. Other cities she called home include Chicago, Palm Harbor FL and San Antonio TX before moving to Otsego MI. Each move to allow for the enjoyment of those she loved. <br><br>Family, friends, books, and music were her first loves and not always in that order. No wonder you’d find her working in a bookstore or volunteering in a library long after retiring from United. If our Lord grants her wish, she’ll be a Jazz Pianist in Heaven. <br><br>There are many really, really good friends too numerous to name with the exception of Diane. Theirs was a friendship for the ages. They spoke daily cherishing that lifelong friendship held so dear by one another. <br><br>Her Chicago area friends and cousins, would come together regularly to update one another, feast and plan the next gathering. <br><br>Her Dowagiac family loved her best when she came home to visit her only sister Frances Huelsman (Art) File on the farm at Whit Pond. The “worldly” aunt brought tales to her wide eyed nieces & nephews. <br><br>Mary is survived by nieces, Judy File Root now of Plainwell and Marty File Murphy now of Newaygo, nephews Barry, Michael and Dennis Huelsman of Oregon and Ohio respectively. There are countless great, second great and three times great nieces and nephews mostly from the Dowagiac area. <br>There will be a private family interment at a later date.Obituary
Mary was born January 3, 1932 in Dowagiac, Michigan. She passed away August 2, 2022 in Otsego, Michigan after a long fight with pulmonary fibrosis.
Ninety years saw Mary through many adventures. A graduate of DHS’s feisty class of 1950, Mary ran through life as an office assistant, a Flying Tiger Line employee and finally at numerous positions for United Airlines where one might hear her say, “You’ll not leave the gate, Captain, until I say it’s time.”
Mary and other United retiree colleagues might find themselves meeting for lunch in LA, Pittsburgh, or maybe Chicago as they had the added privilege of going anywhere, anytime there was an open seat on a plane.
She’s been on a world cruise, visited numerous countries and could boast she’s been to London at least 7 times. Other cities she called home include Chicago, Palm Harbor FL and San Antonio TX before moving to Otsego MI. Each move to allow for the enjoyment of those she loved.
Family, friends, books, and music were her first loves and not always in that order. No wonder you’d find her working in a bookstore or volunteering in a library long after retiring from United. If our Lord grants her wish, she’ll be a Jazz Pianist in Heaven.
There are many really, really good friends too numerous to name with the exception of Diane. Theirs was a friendship for the ages. They spoke daily cherishing that lifelong friendship held so dear by one another.
Her Chicago area friends and cousins, would come together regularly to update one another, feast and plan the next gathering.
Her Dowagiac family loved her best when she came home to visit her only sister Frances Huelsman (Art) File on the farm at Whit Pond. The “worldly” aunt brought tales to her wide eyed nieces & nephews.
Mary is survived by nieces, Judy File Root now of Plainwell and Marty File Murphy now of Newaygo, nephews Barry, Michael and Dennis Huelsman of Oregon and Ohio respectively. There are countless great, second great and three times great nieces and nephews mostly from the Dowagiac area.
There will be a private family interment at a later date.
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