Marilu Shaw

The youngest of seven children, she attended school in St. Ignace, Michigan, graduating from Lasalle High School. She worked as a telephone operator for Michigan Bell Telephone. It was in that position that she met and married Alan J. Shaw, who predeceased her in 2020, a Michigan State Police Trooper at the St. Ignace post. They married on January 15, 1955. She also worked as a seamstress and manager at Stretch and Sew Fabrics.

Mary is survived by her sister, Gertrude Sorenson, of Bad Axe, Michigan in addition to children Jill M. (Shaw) Kercher, Andrew J. Shaw, Coleen (Thomas) Lerch and Jeff Shaw.

She was affectionately known as “Grandma Sweetie Pie” by her grandchildren Melissa (Patrick Steiner) Kercher, Nicholas (Danielle) Lerch, Alex (Kaylee) Lerch, Jennifer (Joshua) Christ, Nicole (Scott) Ranney, Rachel Shaw and Christopher (Michiah) Shaw and 8 great-grandchildren.

She was a lifelong member of the Catholic Church, belonging to different parishes around Michigan as Alan was transferred with the Michigan State Police. They settled in the East Lansing, Michigan area where she has been a member of St. Thomas Aquinas parish since 1975.

Mary recently began spending the winter months in Lorida, Florida where she enjoyed Wednesday night dinners at her favorite restaurant with the 2 for 1 fajita specials or walking through the flea market for that one item that she needed for an empty spot on the shelf. She also enjoyed spending time at Walt Disney World.

A visitation for Mary will be held on Sunday, January 21, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM, with the rosary being prayed at 7:30 PM, at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes East Chapel, 1730 E Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI 48823. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, January 22, 2024 at 11:00 AM, with a one-hour prior visitation from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, 955 Alton Rd., East Lansing, MI 48823.

As Mary was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, in lieu of flowers, please consider St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or your favorite children charity.