Mary Lou Cottrell

Mary Lou Cottrell died peacefully on November 24, 2024 at The Moments Memory Care Center in Lakeville, Minnesota. Mary Lou was born to Marguerite and Raphael Stapish on August 15, 1935. She was the last surviving member of her family, preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, Bill (Pat), Lois (Jerry), Jim (Sue), and Mick. Mary Lou was also preceded in death by her loving son, Ken, and her first and beautiful granddaughter Cassie Cottrell-DeLong.

Mary Lou lived almost all of her life in Bay City, Michigan, attending school and church at St Mary’s, which was close to her childhood home on Litchfield Street. After graduating from St. Mary’s High School, Mary Lou attended Bay City Junior College where she met Tom in an accounting class. Mary Lou and Tom were married on October 6, 1956, and they enjoyed 62 years together before Tom’s passing on May 2, 2018. Mary Lou is the mother of six children, Gary (Mary), Ron (Dawn), Colleen (Petro), Ken, deceased, (Cindy), Jim, and Dennis (Debbie). Mary Lou also has 21 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Mary Lou lived her faith through her selfless acts of kindness. She was dedicated to her family, with her constant presence at home caring for her husband and children. It is hard to know the number of meals she prepared, the tons of laundry she washed, and the number of times she tucked her children into bed saying prayers together before going to sleep. She attended hundreds of her children’s ball games, dance recitals, school events and was always there for her family with her unconditional love. 

As her children grew older, Mary Lou went to work at Peoples National Bank where she was once recognized as the Employee of the Year. Her strong sense of service to others, humility and goodness is what defined Mary Lou’s character. She was loved and respected by all who encountered her warm smile and gracious manners.

Mary Lou and Tom’s 62 years of marriage were grounded in their faith. They lived their marriage vows throughout their lives, caring for one another, and now they are reunited in Heaven. 

Over the last 13 years of Mary Lou’s life, she was burdened with dementia/Alzheimer’s. Although she lost her memory, she never lost her spirit, always sharing her love, radiant smile, and genuine kindness with everyone she encountered. The family thanks the team at The Moments (we know she was one of your favorites), Bluestone Physician Group, and Minnesota Hospice for the loving care they provided her for the past six years. 

The family will receive friends at Gephart Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 4th from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm with a vigil service and rosary at 7:00 pm. We will celebrate Mary Lou’s life at her funeral Mass on Thursday, December 5th at 10:00 am at Corpus Christi Parish at 1000 S. Wenona Street, Bay City, Michigan. She will lay in state from 9:00 am to 10:00 am before the start of Mass. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Corpus Christi Parish.