Mary Ann Katherine Boyer (Wysocki)

Mary Ann Katherine Boyer (Wysocki), born in Detroit, Michigan, on June 19, 1934, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family and friends. Mary Ann was the daughter of Bronislaw "Barney" Wysocki, a Polish immigrant, and Mary Elizabeth Wysocki (Roza). One of thirteen children, she grew up in Detroit, where resilience, hard work, and perseverance became the foundation of the woman she would become. Following graduation from Fordson High School, Mary Ann held several positions before working at the corporate headquarters of the S.S. Kresge Company in Detroit. She later joined Taylor Public Schools, where she devoted 42 remarkable years to serving students, staff, and families. A bright and welcoming presence in the school district's administrative offices, Mary Ann was known for her kindness, compassion, and genuine care for others. She was respected by her colleagues and loved by countless people whose lives she touched along the way. Proud of her 42-year career with Taylor Schools, she worked tirelessly to provide for her family. She retired at the age of 77, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, reliability, and service. After becoming a single mother in the early 1960s, Mary Ann devoted herself to raising her four children while carrying the responsibilities of both provider and parent. At a time when the term "single parent" was rarely heard, she worked tirelessly, managed the household, and shouldered the financial burdens of raising a family on her own. Through determination, sacrifice, and unwavering love, she ensured her children were never without a roof over their heads, clothes to wear, or food on the table. Most importantly, each child grew up knowing they were deeply loved and supported. Through her example, Mary Ann instilled the values of hard work, integrity, perseverance, respect, compassion, and selflessness. She taught her children and grandchildren to always do their best, whether in school, at work, or in service to others, and to give generously without expecting anything in return. A devoted mother, Nana, and Catholic, Mary Ann lived her faith through kindness, compassion, acceptance, and unconditional love. She welcomed people as they were, believed everyone deserved dignity and respect, and taught her children that God's love was greater than human judgment. Through her example, she demonstrated the power of faith, perseverance, and caring for others. She was a lifelong learner and an avid reader who rarely missed a day with a newspaper, book, or article. She loved listening to educational programs, especially on CBC Radio, and often shared interesting stories, articles, and discoveries with her children and grandchildren. She believed learning never stopped and encouraged curiosity, knowledge, and open-mindedness in those around her. While she enjoyed learning, she also loved simple pleasures, including music, movies, and her favorite television programs, especially the Lawrence Welk Show, which remained a treasured part of her life for many years. Nothing brought Mary Ann greater happiness than her family. She cherished time spent with her children and grandchildren and took great joy in watching their lives unfold. Her grandchildren lovingly knew her as "Nana." She celebrated their accomplishments, encouraged their dreams, and took pride in the people they became. Her warmth, encouragement, sense of humor, and steady presence created a foundation of love that continues to guide her family today. Mary Ann worked hard her whole life and approached every day with a beam of hope and positive energy. Even when faced with the enormous challenges of Parkinson's disease, she continued to meet life with courage, grace, optimism, and concern for others. In her final act of generosity, Mary Ann continued teaching others. Through her anatomical gift to the University of Michigan Medical School, she helped educate future physicians, reflecting the selflessness and compassion that defined her life. While attending the Medical School's annual "Service of Gratitude" ceremony, her family was reminded that Mary Ann's final gift was also a final lesson: a life dedicated to helping others. Mary Ann is survived by her children, Adelore Boyer (Beverly), Philip Boyer (Rob), David Boyer (Paul), and Suzanne Littlefield Boyer (Vince); her beloved grandchildren, Cassandra Boyer, Korey Littlefield (Ashley), and Kyle Littlefield; as well as her bonus grandchildren, Cari, Jullee (Mike), Michael (Nidia), Jaden, Ava, and Makyla. She is also lovingly remembered by many extended family members, dear friends, and caregivers who were like family to her, especially Rachel, Monique, and Jalynn, who will forever cherish her memory. Mary Ann's family and friends will forever remember her gentle strength, her endless sacrifices, her love of learning, and the example she set through a life devoted to faith, family, kindness, and service. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched and in the lessons she taught, not through words alone, but through the way she lived every day. A private Celebration of Life with family and friends will be held in Westland, Michigan, on Sunday, June 21 at 12:00 PM. Donations in Mary Ann's memory may be made to the Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson's Disease to help others living with Parkinson's and their families. https://kirkgibsoncenter.org/

Mary Ann Katherine Boyer (Wysocki)

June 19, 1934 - March 1, 2025