On August 20, 2024 the Imo clan lost their Matriarch, Mary Louise (Imo) Slavik. Mary was born August 13, 1925 on a farm in Monroe, Michigan to Ira and Edna (Quell) Cousino. She was the oldest of her three siblings, Geraldine (John) Volpi Gotha, Carl (Ida) Cousino and Thomas (June) Cousino and carried the role of big sister throughout her 99 years of life.
Mary graduated from Monroe High School in 1943, and attended Cleary College in Ypsilanti where she perfected her shorthand which was a skill she later used throughout her career with Consolidated Packaging and Detroit Edison (Manpower), and more importantly to write Christmas gift lists that kept her children guessing.
Mary was an amazing seamstress and talented baker. Her love for her family was baked into every cake she created and sewn into each quilt she crafted after the birth of a new grandchild. She owned Cakes by Mary for 50 years, was a seamstress at Wedding Creations and a lifelong member of the Monroe County Quilters Guild. Mary was many things to many people, Mary Louise, Aunt Mary, Mom, but was affectionately known to most as Nana, and loved by all no matter which name they called her by. Her chop suey was legendary and her euchre skills unmatched. She not only loved playing cards, but she always sent cards. No matter how far away her children or grandchildren were, a card from Nana would be in the mail for every birthday and holiday. Possibly late, but we suspect she just liked to keep the festivities going.
Her marriage to Lawrence (Pete) Imo created a beautiful family that continued to grow. Her six children Linda (David) Turner-Columbus, Georgia, Poppy (Bill) Toth-Maumee, Ohio, Debbie Imo-Monroe, Michigan, Larry (Angela) Imo (deceased), Denise (Randy) Tevepaugh-Chagrin Falls, Ohio and Wendy (Tim) Crouch-Caledonia, Illinois had families of their own, and Mary had 18 grandchildren and 32-1/2 great grands. Years later Albert Slavik would dance into her life. They married in 1987 and remained married until his death in 2009. Nana never liked to miss a celebration, and truthfully, she was the party. Whether she was keeping up with her grandchildren at Cedar Point, holding court at a family function or traveling around the country to visit her daughters and son, Mary made the room brighter and the laughs last longer. She was a faithful member of St. John's Catholic Church, and she is preceded in death by her siblings, husband, granddaughter (Katie Turner), grandson (MAJ Douglas Sloan) and son Larry Imo. Mary's humor, sass and strong spirit will be missed every day, but we know Larry was waiting to greet her with a hug and a cold beer with tomato juice.
The family would like to acknowledge and thank the staff at Fountain View of Monroe where Mary spent the last 5 years, and Beacon Hospice who both cared for her so lovingly.
Cremation has been arranged through Bacarella Funeral Home. A memorial visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28th at Bacarella Funeral Home. She will lie in state from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday at St. John The Baptist Catholic Church where Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11 a.m. by Rev. Fr. Michael Anagbogu.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Beacon Hospice, 44978 Ford Road, Suite D, Canton, MI 48187.
Online condolences and special memories may be shared with the family by visiting the obituary page at www.bacarellafuneralhome.com .