Marie Christine Mesarchik, beloved wife of Bob Mesarchik, passed away Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Rochester.

Marie's Irish Eyes will forever be smiling in our hearts.

Marie was born May 30, 1929, to proud Irish immigrants, Patrick and Margaret, (Kearney) Richardson in Chicago, Ill. She was baptized and confirmed in the Church of the Resurrection and completed 12 years of catholic education, graduating from Siena High School in 1947. After a brief career as a legal secretary, she met and married the love of her life, Bob Mesarchik on Sept. 27, 1952.

Marie was a wonderful person, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and a friend to all who met her. She devoted her life to Bob and together they raised four grateful children, and were blessed with seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild and lots of great friends. Following adventurous moves to Alabama, New York, (three times), and Wisconsin, she and Bob and four children settled in Rochester in 1968 to be closer to their families in the Midwest.

Marie loved life. Her greatest passion was any time spent with family and friends, and she has left a lifetime worth of stories that will continue to be shared with everyone. Her greatest role was being an awesome mom. She celebrated her family every day and enjoyed very close relationships with her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchild, family and friends. She always loved the babies, her own and everyone else's. She was a very important person in their lives, always encouraging and supportive. Birthdays were always special and she insisted on celebrating them on the day. Marie arriving in the driveway for another birthday or family event was a welcome sight for everyone. In addition, she celebrated her Irish heritage every day. She was a lover of everything Irish, including music and dance and was always quick to share that she was a member of the only Irish Richardson clan to settle in Ireland. She and Bob hosted the entire family on a trip to Ireland in 2007, highlighted by a trip to her grandparents' homestead in County Tipperary. The most special time was Christmas; Marie never missed Christmas with the family and for years we attended the children's Mass and enjoyed her favorite hymn, "Joy to the World." She thought we should sing it year round.

She loved traveling and along with Bob put a high value on the summer vacation as important family time. Every summer, there was another adventurous and memorable trip that has created a lifetime of memories. She loved camping with family and friends in the trailers and motor homes. When Bob retired, after 34 years at IBM, she traveled to international destinations, including Ireland, Europe, Russia and China. Her recent travel included a 2013 trip to Disney World with some of her children and grandchildren. She always stayed connected to family and friends in the Chicago area, and has made that 365-mile trip, hundreds of times. Her legacy will include her spirit of travel and adventure.

Marie was active in the community, always ready to help others. She was a member of the St. John's Women's Auxiliary, Methodist Hospital Auxiliary baby photo program, P.E.O Sisterhood, and was the founder of the Scarlet O'Hattas Chapter of the Red Hat Society. Her activities with Bob included the love of barbershop singing, square dancing and car club outings.

Marie is survived by Bob Mesarchik, her husband of almost 62 years; and her four children, Kathleen (Joseph) Buske, Eagan, Michael (Peggy) Mesarchik, Apple Valley, Mary Lou (fiance, Chuck Lowden) Mesarchik, Eagan and John (Rhonda) Mesarchik, Naperville, Ill.; seven grandchildren, Michael, (Sheila), Laura, Sara, Maggie, (Scott), Joey, Christine and Abby; one great-grandchild, Aiden; one sister, Joy Dickens of Chicago; and one sister-in-law, Mary Richardson of Chicago.

Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Patrick and Margaret, her big brother, Patrick, her little brother, Jim, her precious niece, Mary Kris, and many close friends.

Visitation will be held at River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 11, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and one hour prior to Mass.

A funeral Mass, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 12, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, with the Rev. John Lasuba officiating.

Memorials are preferred to Seeds of Wisdom in South Sudan, founded by Father John Lasuba, YMCA Camp Olson, Longville, MN or your personal choice.