Mary Belski

Mary Belski, 90, of Benton Harbor, passed away at her son’s home Saturday, August 16, 2008, surrounded by her family. Friends may call from 5:00- 8:00 PM, Wednesday, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph, and from 9:30 to 10:30 AM, on Thursday, at St. Bernard Catholic Church , 555 Delaware, Benton Harbor. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 AM, Thursday, at St. Bernard Catholic Church with Rev. William Jacobs, Jr. officiating. Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Berrien Community Foundation. Friends wishing to send a condolence may do so at the guest book at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mary was born on October 9, 1917 in Benton Harbor, MI, to Carl and Lena (DeMaria) Ciaravino. She completed the 9th grade, but she earned her doctorate from the school of hard knocks; becoming a self-educated woman. On June 30, 1935, she married Peter Belski at St. John Catholic Church in Benton Harbor. Mary decided to be a stay at home mother. Besides her family, the high light of her life was her dedication to her community through volunteering. She was President of Morton Hill PTA, the Junior High PTA, and PTA Council President of Benton Harbor Area Schools. She was a Red Cross board member and had over 60 years of volunteering with the Red Cross. Mary was a poll worker in Benton Harbor and St. Joseph Township and worked the Elections Board for over 50 years until her 88th birthday. She was an Easter Seals board member and a neighborhood block captain. She had over 6500 volunteer hours with the Mercy Hospital Auxiliary up until 1988. Mary was a teen advisor for the 7th to the 12th grades at the YMCA in Benton Harbor and was a past President of St. Bernard Church Guild. Mary won numerous awards for her volunteer work such as the Margaret B. Upton Volunteer award in 2008, the Governor’s award, Tribute for Women Award in 2006, the Michigan for Highway Safety Chairman Award, and the Host Program Award. She is survived by a son, Anthony (Judy) Belski of St. Joseph, a daughter, Andrea (Ed) Wilson of St. Joseph; four grandchildren, Andrew, Elizabeth, Jodie, and Christopher; three great-grand children, Donald, Alicia and Jacob; a sister, Anne Heyn of Ypsilanti MI, and a brother, Jasper (Rose) Ciaravino of Stevensville, MI. She was preceded in death by her husband Peter in 1999, a grandson Jordan Wilson in 1984, and sisters Catherine Stover, and Frances Ciaravino.