Rememberingmi.us
A Tribute to Life.
Mary Madeleine Hicks of Alma (formerly of Bad Axe and Mt. Pleasant) passed away peacefully on March 26 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s and dementia. She was 79. Mary was born on March 30, 1944 in Mt. Pleasant, MI to Maurice and Marjorie Pety. She graduated from Sacred Heart Academy and was class Salutatorian. James (Jim) Hicks of Alma and Mary Madeleine were married on July 26th, 1968 in Mt. Pleasant. Jim and Mary lived in Big Rapids while Jim finished his teaching degree and Mary worked at the Ferris State Pharmacy department. They moved to Bad Axe in 1971 when Jim accepted a teaching job. They considered Bad Axe home until 2007 when they moved back to Alma to be closer to family. Mary’s life prior to Alzheimer’s was a tapestry of love, laughter and service to her family and community. She was woman of strength, character and warmth. Mary could strike up a conversation with anyone and loved meeting new people. She put these skills to use when she began selling Tupperware. Mary was known as The Tupperware Lady, and was a district manager. She truly believed in her product and loved sharing the wonders of Tupperware with people throughout Huron County. She later became an advertising representative for the Thumb Blanket newspaper and truly cherished the relationships she formed with her clients. Mary’s life was filled with passion and pursuits. She loved children and volunteered as a “picture lady”, sharing artwork with elementary age students. Mary was also a proud member of the Bad Axe Board of Education for 19 years. After retiring she was a substitute paraprofessional at the Huron Learning Center and she found great joy in working with the children there. Until her health condition made it difficult, Mary regularly attended the United Methodist Church of Alma with Jim and sang in the church choir. Mary had many loves in her life: babies; all animals; offbeat humor; shopping at TJ Maxx; finding bargains at thrift stores; old movies, dancing, inspirational quotes and devotions, nutty bars; the color purple; and Revlon Iced Amethyst lipstick, which she never went anywhere without. Mary’s greatest passion was spending time with her family. In her life, she loved deeply, laughed heartily, and cared immensely. She left behind a legacy of love and laughter to her husband of 54 years Jim, her children Monica (Mark) Krug, Joshua (Sarah) Hicks, Jeffrey (Stephanie) Hicks, and Jared (Yasmine) Hicks. Her grandchildren Tanner (Yvonne)krug, Mason Krug, Jenna Krug, Madeleine Hicks, Adam Hicks, Abigail Hicks, Elyse Hicks, and Emma Hicks. She is also survived by her dear sister Anne (Jack) Kopson, brothers Eugene (Joyce) Pety and James (Christine) Pety, and sister-in-law Mart Pety, as well as several nieces and nephews. Her cherished pets Annie and Scamp will miss her as well. She was preceded in death by her beloved siblings: Sister Beverly Pety, Sister Marie Bernadette, Irene Turk, Lucille Haas, Evelyn Lance, and David Pety as well as her special sister-in-law Mary Pety. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, to the family to put towards a donation to Prestige Assisted Living Center to benefit other residents dealing with Alzheimer’s and Dementia, or please donate to your local animal shelter in Mary’s name. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 2, at 11 am at the Faith Lutheran Church in Mt. Pleasant. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 9 am until the time of services at the church. Interment will take place in Riverside Cemetery, Alma. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Lux-moody-wolfel Funeral Home, Alma. To view Mary’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.luxfuneralhomes.com