Mary Alyce (Ansley) Strieter

Mary Alyce Strieter, artist, counselor, wife, mother, grandmother and forever true friend passed away blissfully on September 19, 2016 at the Hiland Cottage of Hospice of Little Traverse Bay in Petoskey.  She was born December 29th, 1939 in Lansing, Michigan to Dorothy (Bester) of Harbor Springs, Michigan and Cecil Ansley of Reading, Ohio.  Mary grew up on a 40 acre farm near Wacusta, Michigan and graduated from Grand Ledge High School in 1957.  Then in 1959, she met the love of her life and best friend, beloved husband Keith J. Strieter and married in 1960 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Lansing, Michigan.  Due to Mary’s husband career at General Motors the family was able to reside in Antwerp Belgium for a period of time then returned to the states and resided in Shelby Township, Michigan till 1990, when Keith retired.  They then spent time in Kansas City, Missouri before retiring in Harbor Springs Michigan.

Mary is the proud mother of four children, Johann Christ 1961, Teresa Ann 1964, Mary Louise 1967, and Susanne Elizabeth who was nurtured in at age 17 in 1986.

Mary Alyce attended college later in life and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1981 with a Bachelors in Religious Education and a minor in psychology from St. Mary’s College in Orchard Lake, Michigan. She then worked in religious education for the Archdiocese of Detroit.  She returned to college in 1987 and acquired a Master of Arts degree in guidance and counselling from Oakland University in 1989.   She worked as a professional licensed counselor working in substance abuse inpatient and then moved to Harbor Springs, Michigan and worked at Northern Michigan Community Mental Health where she learned she had a gift for positively impacting troubled children.   Mary retired in 2002. 

Throughout her life, Mary was a gifted artist.  She was extremely creative and talented with her sewing, knitting, crocheting, painting, quilting and jewelry making.  Creating some of the most beautiful, blankets, sweaters, gloves, scarves and hats. Her quilts and paintings will be treasured family heirlooms for at least the next century. She was rarely seen without some project or book in her hands. 

She will always be remembered as the fun Mom and Grandmother who made everyone smile.  She had a way of making those in her life feel very special and loved unconditionally.

Mary is predeceased by Johann’s wife Pamela Ann and survived by her husband Keith, their 4 children, Johann, Teresa, Mary, and Susanne, Susanne’s husband Roger, 9 grandchildren, and 7 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Little Traverse Bay, 1 Hiland Drive, Petoskey, Michigan, 49770.  A memorial life celebration for Mary Alyce Strieter’s will be held on Sunday, October 2nd, 2016 at Transfiguration Episcopal Church in Indian River.    

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