Mary Lou Bartoszek Racine, went home to the Lord most unexpectedly while wintering in Parker Arizona, on Thursday March 28th.

Mary Lou was born in Manistee on November 5, 1955 to Sally (Dembinski) and Joseph Bartoszek. She was the most cherished sister to Rich. Mary Lou attended St. Joseph grade school and was a proud Graduate of the class of 1973 from Manistee Catholic Central.

Mary Lou married Earl "Buzz" Racine on October 9, 1982 and they enjoyed thirty years together until his death on October 22, 2012.  Mary Lou owned and operated Rich's "Daisy a Day" Flowershop for 26 years.  After Buzz retired, he became an unpaid administrative assistant, working daily with Mary Lou.  In a recent interview she stated that she loved the business, driving up someone's driveway always brought a smile to their face and it made their day.  Mary Lou went out of her way to give the flower business that extra special touch, she stayed at the church for weddings until every flower was pinned on, and she straightened the brides train as she walked down the aisle. When located on River and Division streets, she and Buzz started planning the Christmas window display in July, as she felt that the Christmas Spirit started on river street in her window. Throughout those years she was involved in many community events most especially the Victorian Christmas weekends, acting as the chair of the Sleighbell Parade.  She was recognized as Business Woman of the year by the Manistee Chamber of Commerce. After her retirement from the flower business, she continued her community involvement with the Garden Club, West Shore Hospital Auxiliary, The Elks, Divine Mercy Rosary Society and Right to life of Manistee County. She was an avid golfer enjoying her involvement with the Manistee Golf and Country Club and currently serving on the board. She always looked forward to the Monday and Wednesday golf leagues.

For the last several years she was blessed with the companionship of Carl Loftis. She was blessed with the gift of meeting new friends in Parker Arizona where they wintered for the past several years. Mary Lou enjoyed the girls trips with her friends in Parker, always being adventurous to a new casino. She and Carl enjoyed traveling to the Upper Peninsula where they met with friends in the summer for golf and fun. Carl's children and five grandchildren, were very special to Mary Lou's heart, always enjoying their family gatherings, holidays and trips to Spring Lake.

Most dear to Mary Lou's heart was Manistee Catholic Central, she was involved with the alumni association, she served as a cochair for many years of the Harvest Fall Fund Raiser and currently served on the board of the Manistee Catholic Central Foundation. Her generosity of time and her financial support to the school knew no bounds. Mary Lou was inducted into the MCC Hall of Fame in 1994. The current situation of the school was indeed a daily focus for her in these last months, trying to do anything she could think of, to SAVE HER BELOVED MCC.

Mary Lou enjoyed the gift of so many friends in the community whom she golfed with, worked with on several community events, met for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  Wherever she went, she met friends who brought a smile to her face.

Mary Lou was a lifelong member of Divine Mercy (St. Joseph Parish) being a Eucharistic minister and bringing communion to the residents of the Medical Care Facility. She enjoyed traveling, going to any casino, playing scrabble, golfing, playing Euchre, going to any Saber event and heading to Detroit to visit her brother.

Mary Lou is survived by her loving brother Fr. Rich Bartoszek, her dear friend of many years Carl Loftis and his family, her aunt, Sister Mary Honoria Bartoszek, step children, Kelly Zack and her children Andrew and Alexa, Earl James and Melanie Racine and their son Earl Jefferson Racine IV. Five sisters-in-law and three brother in laws, Donna Wallace, Bonnie Harwell, Pat and Dan Barch, Linda and James Muszynski and Deborah and Michael Birkam, dear friends Kay Fortier, John Umlauf and Jeff Seng, as well as many cousins, friends and her Saber family.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her husband Buzz, and her parents Joseph Bartoszek and Sally and Rex Cabot.

Visitation for Mary Lou will be on at Divine Mercy Parish, on Sunday April 7th from 4:00 PM to 8:30 PM.  A scripture service will begin at 8:00 PM. Mass from the Order of Christian Funerals will be celebrated on Monday April 8th at 11:00 AM, by her brother and concelebrating priests. There will be visitation at the church beginning at 10:00 AM until the time of the funeral.

The Divine Mercy Rosary Society will pray the Rosary at 10:00 AM prior to the funeral. Burial will take place at Mount Carmel Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are being established in Mary Lou's name to the Manistee Catholic Central Foundation or the Beamont Grosse Pointe Spiritual Care Endowment Fund, envelopes will be available at the church.

The Staff of the Herbert Funeral Home are handling all arrangements. The Funeral Mass will be Live streamed www.sjascs.org/st-joan-live