Mary Helene Muessig went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on July 26, 2020. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 63 years, Bill Muessig, who probably asked her, "What took you so long?" She was also preceded by her parents, Jennie O'Connor Glass and Ralph Glass, originally from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and by her brother Tom Glass and beloved sister Joan McNamara. Mary was born on May 24, 1923 and grew up in a loving home in Detroit, Michigan where she was raised by her mother, a former teacher and devoted housewife, and by her father, Ralph Glass, a World War I Infantryman, who became a City of Detroit bus driver who never met a stranger. Mary was 97 years young and was still sharing her warm smile.
In 1947, while attending Wayne State University, Mary met a former World War II Reconnaissance Patrol Leader named Bill Muessig and the rest as they say is history. They dated for several years and then Bill moved to Texas. He quickly returned the Christmas of 1949 "to get the prettiest girl from Kalamazoo" and they were married on January 7, 1950 in Detroit at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Mary had never lived outside of her Detroit home for the first 26 years of her life, and the next day they were on their way to Dallas, Texas where she spent the next 71 years of her life as a Texan! Shortly after arriving in Texas, Mary was ecstatic to find out that she was pregnant with her first-born, living in an unairconditioned home in Garland, Texas in the middle of the summer. Craig was born in November 1950 followed by Kristine Mary (Teena) in May of 1954, Jeff in November of 1956, and her baby Janet in April of 1960. They were founding members of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Garland where all four of their children attended grade school.
Mother's life was certainly characterized by gratitude. She was eternally grateful for her parents and for her siblings, Tom and Joan. She married the love of her life, Bill Muessig, and cherished their 63 years of marriage together. Her children were her life and she was their greatest cheerleader and a wonderful Mother. However, she could be very objective whenever necessary. She was always appreciative of her many Good Shepherd Catholic Church friends and cherished her best friend, Eleanor Garrett, who she lost several years ago. She had a special love and appreciation for her home on West Celeste Drive in Garland where she raised her four children. She loved unconditionally her Good Shepherd Pastor, Father Charles Smid, and likewise she was extremely grateful for her current Pastor, Father Joseph of St. Michael's in Garland and her Guardian Angel Jan Molstad who regularly brought her Communion. The last four years she was always appreciative of the loving care that she received at the Avalon Memory Care Center in Garland by devoted nurse's aides, too numerous to mention but they know who they are. The Muessig family thanks them also. She cherished most of all her Catholic faith and her relationship with the Almighty and we are comforted with the fact that she is now with her Savior.
She is survived by her son Craig Muessig, wife Alice and their daughter Betty Marie, daughter Teena Zihlman, husband Andy, and their three children, Coleen (Brian), Caroline (John), and Kurt (Carrie), son Jeff Muessig and wife Cindy, and their three children Lori (Keith), Jeni (David), and Will. Janet was the caboose along with her son Chris Coyle, his son Jacob and Katie, Jacob's mom. She was extremely blessed with her eight grandchildren who she cherished and also her twelve great grandchildren, Jacob, Ellie, Millie, Hattie in September, Hadley, Reagan, Brett, Maggie, Avery, Mason, Lee, and Lucy. One of the last things mom said when she went to the hospital was, "Take care of those babies!"
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Saint Michael the Archangel Food Pantry, 950 Trails Parkway, Garland, Texas 75043, www.stmichaelgarland.org, in honor of Mary and Bill Muessig. The family will hold a private Mass of Christian Burial, and a public celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date due to the current pandemic. "Well done, good and faithful servant . . . enter into the joy of thy Master!"
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18