MaKayla Marie (Vizina) Connelly

MaKayla Marie Connelly, age 23, of Indian River, passed away Saturday, August 1, 2020. She was born October 16, 1996 in Petoskey, the daughter of Barry and Tammy (Kennedy) Vizina. 

MaKayla graduated from Inland Lakes High School in 2014 and Grand Valley State University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science degree. She worked for Karmanos Cancer Institute in Petoskey as a Research Coordinator, where she was recognized by her coworkers for being an overwhelmingly kind and valuable employee devoted to cancer care and research. 

MaKayla married Benjamin Connelly on November 4, 2016 at the Indian River United Methodist Church. MaKayla is remembered by Ben and her family for her bright smile and for being an inextinguishable light to all who knew her—always lighting up every room she entered. She shined bright not only as a daughter, friend, sister and aunt, but as a wife and most recently as a mother to her three young children, Emmalynn, Julianne and Brooks. Everyone close to her will say she was the glue that bound hearts together—she adored spending time with her children and nieces, always encouraged family gatherings, and was always down for a day on the dock at her family’s cottage on Burt Lake. She was the life of the party and was unwavering in her commitment to live life to its fullest every single minute—full throttle. Most importantly, she never let a day pass without letting her loved ones know they were supported and that she loved them deeply and unconditionally. 

MaKayla is survived by her husband Ben and their three children, her parents, Barry and Tammy, three siblings, Travis (Rachel) Vizina, Jaimee (Josh Rybinski) Vizina and Beau Vizina, all of Indian River; her mother-in-law, June (Jon Evans) Gibbs of Neenah, WI, father-in-law, Stephen (Sarah) Connelly of Whitehouse, OH, Sisters-in-law, Caitlin Connelly and Ashley Gibbs, both of Indian River and Caroline Connelly of Whitehouse, OH, brother-in-law, Luke Gibbs of Indian River; grandparents, John and Marilyn Kennedy of Sault Ste. Marie, Canada and Marilyn Vizina of Indian River, two nieces, Ellie Vizina and Jacie Rybinski and countless aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and the Indian River community as a whole. She was preceded in death by her brother, Barron Vizina in infancy and her grandfather, Bert Vizina.

Visitation will take place at the Cross in the Woods Catholic Shrine , Friday, August 7 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM with prayers beginning at 6:00 PM.  The funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, August 8, at 10:00 AM, also at the Shrine, in the outdoor sanctuary, with the family greeting friends one hour prior to the mass. A picnic luncheon will be at Co-operation Park following the Funeral Mass.   Masks will be required in the church during visitation on Friday and please respect social distancing during the outdoor mass on Saturday.

There will be roses available at the visitation on Friday night, and MaKayla’s family would like to encourage family and friends to take a rose and release it in the Indian River near the Green Docks following the visitation.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Ben and their children through the Awakon Federal Credit Union where a savings account has been set up. Envelopes will be available at the church.  Arrangements are being handled by the Stone Funeral Home of Indian River.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of MaKayla Marie (Vizina) Connelly, please visit our floral store.