Mary Alice Byrne

Mary Alice Byrne, 88, a twenty year resident of Washington, Michigan, passed away on April 6, 2020, surrounded by her loving family. Mary Alice was born in Detroit, Michigan on November 11, 1931. She was the daughter of Joseph and Alice (Conlen) Miriani. Mary Alice graduated from Saint Ambrose High School in Detroit. She worked as a special education teacher for fifteen years and then as a psychologist for ten years. She raised seven children with her late husband, William Joseph Chisholm. Family was everything to Mary Alice. It was also important for her to maintain close relationships with her life-long high school friends. This group of ladies, referred to as “the club”, have met regularly for many years. Mary Alice also enjoyed music. She played piano and sang in her church choir. She was a devout Catholic and parishioner of St. John and Paul Catholic church. She also liked to travel, visiting family and seeing the world. She enjoyed spending time with her family at their lakefront home in Lexington, Michigan. She prioritized volunteer work, some of which consisted of delivering Meals on Wheels, helping St. Vincent DePaul and providing assistance annually with McRest, an outreach program that provides temporary food and shelter for the homeless. Mary Alice is survived by her husband, Donald Byrne of Washington, Michigan, seven children, Gary (Maria) Chisholm, Linda (Tom) McElroy, William Chisholm, Jennifer Chisholm, Susan (Sunil) Khanna, Julie Olszewski, and Allan (Hoa) Chisholm. She is survived by her three siblings, Barbara (Donald) Kasler, Ronald Miriani, and Penny Kennedy. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, Megan McElroy, Matthew McElroy, Sara (Ben) Morgan, Amanda Chisholm, Alexandra Chisholm (Luke Jarmolowicz), Michael Chisholm, Julianne (Antonio) Vultaggio, Samantha Olszewski, Ellie Olszewski, Audrey Olszewski, Serena Khanna and Nikhil Khanna. She is also survived by one great-grandson, Salvatore Vultaggio, and one more grandson on the way! Finally, she is survived by her six step children, Michael Byrne, Susan Staub, William Byrne, Donna Willbanks, Joseph Byrne and Patricia Byrne. Lastly, she was preceded in death by her step-daughter, also named Mary Alice (1965). A funeral mass will be held on Monday, June 15, 2020 at 11 AM at St. John and Paul Catholic Church.