Mary L. Wolski

Mary Louise Wolski, 91, originally from Grand Blanc, Michigan, passed away on May 27, 2025. Mary is survived by her sister Jane Mitchell, her three children, Roland Wilkerson, Philip Liaboe and Mary Jane Maharry, daughter-in-law Paula Wilkerson, daughter-in-law Lauren Liaboe, son-in-law Jeff Maharry, her grandchildren Joan Wilkerson, Heather Lino, Kim Liaboe, Melissa Liaboe, William Maharry, and Haley Maharry.

Born to Louise and Spurgeon Buchanan in 1933, Mary grew up in Grand Blanc and graduated from Grand Blanc High School in 1951. She attended Nazareth College in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where she earned her RN certificate in 1953. She started her nursing career in New York City and later moved to Denver and then St. Louis. She had deep ties to Flint, Michigan and in 1960, Mary moved back to the area and became a nurse at Mott Children's Health Center. She later worked at Hurley Hospital (where she was born). After a decade serving as an RN at Hurley, she stretched her ambition and became Michian's first patient advocate - a title she held until her retirement in 1991.

Mary was married to Harry Wilkerson in 1960, and had two sons; Philip and Roland. They divorced in 1964. She married William Wolski in 1969 and they were married until his death in 2005. In 2015, Mary moved to an independent living facility in Olympia Fields to be closer to her daughter's family and youngest grandchildren.

Throughout her life, Mary made lasting and strong friendships; Frankie Perry was an especially dear friend. They met at nursing training and were there for each other through the many ups and downs through both their lives. One of her superpowers – and there were many – was her knack for connecting with people in a way that made them feel good. She was a quick study when it comes to personal character. She loved listening to stories from others, and relished conversations about books and movies. When it came to offering advice to loved ones seeking her input, she always had a kind observation to make, but wasn't afraid to suggest an option she knew they might not like. She was a creative soul - picking up watercolors later in life and developing a love of poetry. She loved to laugh, was always game for fun, and for years got up at 5 am to do yoga long before it became a household word.

Mary Oliver held a special place in her heart. Below is one of her favorite poems.

"Wild Geese" - Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting–

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

In lieu of flowers, we would like donations to be made to the Hurley Foundation - https://www.hurleyfoundation.org/donate/

And the Genesee Humane Society - https://geneseehumane.org/give/online-donation/