Marie Gilbert's Obituary
Marie Kuhnlein Gilbert (née Cataldo), 96, of St. Clair and Grosse Pointe passed into eternal life Tuesday, October 1, 2024 peacefully in her home.
Born March 15, 1928, in Detroit to Frances (Napolitan) and Charles Rocco Cataldo, Marie had a zest for life. Once chastised by a teacher for being “too enthusiastic”, she greeted each day with optimism, embracing hope, and celebrating joy. She was a devout Christian throughout her life which helped her overcome life’s challenges.
Marie’s friends and family were many. Born into a large, tight-knit Sicilian immigrant and first-generation family, she was supported by three loving sisters and many wonderful aunts, uncles, and cousins. Her childhood home was filled with love, music, food, and extended family. This trained her for life.
After graduating from Eastern High School in 1945 and earning a Bachelor’s degree from Siena Heights College and Master’s degree from Wayne State University in elementary school education, she married the love of her life, Daniel Edward Kuhnlein in 1953.
They had ten children in eleven years, each year Dan got a promotion and Marie had a baby. It was a time of abundance. Together, they built a strong family, characterized by Sunday dinners at Grandma’s and major adventures, including a cross-country car ride in 1968 – 12 people packed into a pre-seatbelt era station wagon – to visit their beloved Aunt Eleanore and Uncle Dennis in Los Angeles, with many adventures along the way.
Then tragedy struck and Marie was widowed at age 43. With enormous faith she raised ten children teaching them to face life doing their best and accept life’s challenges. She prioritized education ensuring that all ten children graduated college. She often told her children – and later her 32 grandchildren – that education is a lifelong gift you take with you wherever you go.
She shared this message as a teacher for over 30-years in Detroit public schools. She also started and led a weekly women’s prayer group which lasted for 38 years. And she loved to host her book club, where she was known to say “Do I have a book for you! Run, don’t walk to get it!”
But perhaps she is best remembered for her very personal handwritten notes and unique handwriting. She put enormous thought into them, sometimes writing friends daily through their illnesses. Her children treasured the regular handwritten, photocopied family letter which chronicled everything from daily life to major family news. And Marie fostered the joy of personal correspondence in her grandchildren by promising to write back and enclose one dollar for every handwritten note she received.
Marie met Henry “Harry” R. Gilbert, a widower, through their daughters and they were married in 1983. They enjoyed 31 years of marriage filled with travel, grandchildren, and family celebrations until Harry’s death in 2014.
Throughout life, Marie’s faith centered her. She prayed the rosary every day, one bead for each child, grand, in-law, and special intention. She was known to say “Just throw it up to the Lord.”
Marie’s words to her guests at her 95th birthday party truly capture her spirit: “My heart’s gift is rich in blessings…precious blessings of wonderful friendships. My faith, loving family, and friends have been my support throughout my entire life, whether in times of sorrow or joy. I am so delighted to have this opportunity to say thank you to each of you. You are my blessing. Just be sweet to one another with kind words and gentleness and stay healthy.”
Marie was predeceased by her husbands, parents, sisters Laura Cataldo and Helen Ruda, brothers-in-law Dennis Downey, Donald Gilbert, Bob Henze, Pete Kilcline, Frank Kuhnlein, Jerome Kuhnlein, Red Lee, Rudy Pale, Anthony Ruda, Gene Rutt, and Ed Schmidt, sisters-in-law Marie Gilbert, Mary Lou Henze, Mary Sue Kuhnlein, Marilyn Lee, Margaret Pale, Mary Rutt, and grandson Mark DeFour.
Marie is survived by her sister Eleanore Downey, children Joellyn (Kevin) Gray, Beth, Claudia (Bob) Eaton, Dan, Allison (Ron Lang), David, Letty (David) Helgans, Karen (Jim) Jones, Donald (Lauri Read), Dean (Nicole), son-in-law Francesc Parcerisas, daughter-in-law Susan Kuhnlein, Harry’s children, James (Dick Wagner), Jan (Ralph) DeFour, and John (Charlotte Pauls), sisters-in-law Jackie Kilcline and Mary Schmidt, 32 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, numerous godchildren, and many extended relatives and friends.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, October 7, 2024 at 11 a.m, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 15020 Hampton, Grosse Pointe Park, MI 48230, with a time of gathering at 10:30.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rose Hill Foundation, Donate to Rose Hill Center | Cultivate Lifelong Well-Being. https://www.rosehillcenter.org/donate/.
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