Obituary of Mary Jean Criswell

Mary J. Criswell, 86, of Cassopolis, passed away on Monday, October 10, 2016 at Cass County Medical Care Facility, following an illness. She was born on March 24, 1930 in Dowagiac, Michigan to the late M. Arthur and Verna Faye (Hunsberger) Greenwood. On July 12, 1947 Mary married Thomas C. Criswell at a ceremony in South Bend, Indiana. Mary worked for nearly fifteen years for Continental Can and then retired after many years at Jessup Door Company in Dowagiac. She had an admiration of being outdoors, working in her flower garden or being in nature that could be as simple as watching birds or spending time at Lake Michigan. Mary will also be remembered for her "Red Rosie Tea Parties" and her passionate love for her family. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Thomas in 2006 and a brother Gregg Greenwood. Mary is survived by her three daughters; Linda (Carl) Miller of Niles, Deborah (Charles) Tietsort of Vandalia and Valerie (Jeffrey) Gaideski of Dowagiac, a son, Scott (Naomi) Criswell of Cassopolis, nine grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, her siblings; Lorna Suits of Dowagiac, Diane Hatch of Dowagiac, Virgil (Joyce) Greenwood of Dowagiac, Larry (Judy) Greenwood of Niles, James (Carolyn) Greenwood of Dowagiac, Andrea (James) Klett of Lawrence and Douglas (Penny) Greenwood of Grand Rapids. A gathering to celebrate Mary's life will be held on Friday, October 14, 2016 at Brown Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. A private family interment will be held at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Cassopolis. Memorial contributions may be made to Cass County Medical Care Facility - Auxiliary, 23770 Hospital St, Cassopolis, Michigan 49031. A beautiful life deserves to be remembered, share your favorite memory of Mary with her family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.