Mary Ann Nausieda

Mary Ann Nausieda, age 94, of Byron Center, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. She went “way upstairs” to finally polka dance again with the love of her life, Edward. Mary was born in 1927 to two Croatian immigrants, Ivan and Barbara Kuhtic, and lived through the Great Depression. Her family was a prime example of hard work to reach the “American Dream.” She grew up in a log cabin on her family’s farm in Wayland. Later, this cabin was donated to the Blandford Nature Center, where she proudly attended many of her grandchildrens’ field trips. Mary met her husband, Edward Nausieda, early in life as he was her older brother’s best friend. They married and moved to the “big city” in Wyoming, Michigan. Together, they raised their four beautiful children. They enjoyed nights of polka dancing, winters in Florida, St. John Vianney’s Saturday evening worship mass, adventures in their motorhome, and growing vegetables (especially green and yellow beans) for their children and grandchildren to pick out at the farmland in Wayland. Proud of her Croatian heritage, she taught her children and grandchildren how to say the Sign of the Cross in Croatian, how to make nut kolache bread or kolache cookies, and to ALWAYS offer food to company. She was feisty for a “studda bubba” or “old lady.” Mary was famous for her chicken noodle soup that could cure the common cold and her cabbage soup. Word searches, reading, and the game show channel were some of her greatest pastimes. She loved Las Vegas and slot machines. She took all her children and their spouses for memorable trips to Vegas. She attended countless sporting events, dance recitals, graduations and 21st birthdays all over the US. She was so proud of her family including all of her little “tootsies” or great grandchildren. She never missed a birthday. Each child or grandchild received lottery tickets and a handwritten card in the mail. Mary had the gift of making you feel special and so very loved even on the ordinary days. Mary was a faith-filled woman that loved with her whole heart. She was non-judgmental and welcoming, lady-like and strong. “How lucky we are to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward; parents, Ivan and Barbara Kuhtic; brothers: Joseph, Ivan, Steve Kuhtic; brothers-in-law: Roman, Frank, and Bill Nausieda. She will be lovingly remembered by her children: Edward Jr. and Terri Nausieda, Richard and Vicki Nausieda, Pat and Randy Bogard, Mary Beth and Matt Underhill; grandchildren: Edward and Yvonne Nausieda III, Erin Nausieda and Rebecca Boehm, Ryan and Erin Nausieda, Jamie and George Troth, Kelly and Garrett Cleaver, Kayla Bogard (Derek Martin), Rachelle and Chris Rizik, Matthew (fiancee Aubree Batchelor) Underhill, Joshua Underhill (Brendan Carragher); great grandchildren: Arielle, Sierra, Josie, Alyza, Everet, Winston, Malachi, Vincent, Maron, Regina, Weston; “sister,” Joyce Nausieda; many nieces, nephews and god-children. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 7, 2022 at St. John Vianney Church, 4101 Clyde Park Avenue SW, Wyoming, with Rev. John Vallier officiating. Burial will be held at Resurrection Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet the family Friday from 6-8 pm at the church, with a rosary at 7:30 p.m. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Samuel Omogo Foundation or St. John Vianney Building Fund.