Maria Meray

Maria (Pando) Meray born on November 21, 1927 in Guardia Piemontese, Cosenza, Italy, passed peacefully in the early morning hours of May 21, 2022. Proceeded in death by her loving husband of sixty-three years, Paul J. Meray, Jr., she is survived by her brother Michael (late Priscilla Pando), sister-in-law Betty (Joe Naspany) Logsdon, her brother-in-law Angelo (late Mary Ann Meray) Timonte, sons Dan (Kim), Larry, Paul (Liz), Francesco (Denise), and Steve (Lisa), fourteen grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren, and one great-great grandson. Emigrating from Italy at the age of seven, Maria led a rich life built on hard work, perseverance, and an unmatched love for her family. In true Italian fashion she grew up in and later ran a multigenerational household. She was the epitome of a matriarch, or our Meray-triarch, if you will. In her younger years she worked for Hudson's most notably modeling in their display window in downtown Detroit. She also attended beauty school and gave most of her grandchildren their first haircuts. At a time in her life when women were not common fixtures in the workplace, she joined the Ford Motor Company materials production department as a sewing machine operator to support her family when her husband Paul was diagnosed legally blind. She retired from Ford after over thirty years of service. While her résumé was impressive and her talents innumerable, what most people will remember about her is her cooking. Culturally, Italians show love through feeding others and let us tell you not one of us ever went hungry! Her lasagna, mostaccioli, and chicken soup are irreplaceable, but according to her grandkids, her bread rolls are the stuff of legends. She didn't just feed people in the traditional sense though. She also fed wisdom, truth, reality, and criticism when needed. She was never mean or unkind but she was firm when necessary. She was also a safe place for all of us. She met everyone where they were at in life taking in many of us when we needed a place to land. Her love was undeniably unconditional. Leaving this Earth aged ninety-four and a half years to the day, she's made an indelible mark that has and will continue to span generations. She will be forever missed.

Visitation 1:00pm - 8:00pm Friday, May 27 at Weise Funeral Home, 7210 Park, Allen Park (313-382-1150). A scripture service will be held at 7 pm.

Funeral service 10:00am Saturday, May 28 (In state at church from 9:30am) at St. Frances Cabrini Church, 9000 Laurence (at Wick), Allen Park.