SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – Marian Agnes Novakoski Koledo passed over to eternal life on June 12, 2026.
She was born Jan. 25, 1931, in Springfield, Vt., to devoted parents Veronica May (Dashner) and Edward Francis Novakoski. She is preceded in death by her sisters Dorothy Whittemore and Irene Fullam. “Mary Sunshine” grew up in a loving home. As a youth in the Depression, Uncle Johnny’s farm kept the family well fed. Post World War II, she filled her dance card literally and figuratively. She was active in high school band (clarinet) and cheerleading, and went to Camp Sargent girls’ summer camp on Lake Naticook in Merrimack, N.H. She enjoyed horses, canoeing, and paddle-in camping on the island. She rose to camp counselor and taught archery and riflery. Her children grew up singing the Camp Sargent fireside songs. Into her 80’s she was still a crack shot.
Marian studied nursing at Bishop DeGoesbriand Hospital in Burlington, Vt. Upon graduation, she moved with friends across the country to an apartment in Los Angeles, where they worked, dated, and attended the Rose Bowl. Upon moving back to Springfield, she met her future husband, James Louis Koledo, in the hardware store. They married in 1955. Marian was a devoted wife and homemaker for 25 years, raising seven healthy children while transferring six times throughout northern New England. In 1974, they settled in Royal Oak, Mich., where they lived in the close-knit VYC neighborhood that held Fourth of July block parties and went camping together.
In 1977, Marian returned to surgical nursing. A highlight of her career was travelling to Egypt with Dr. Gazayerli to demonstrate/teach laparoscopic knee surgery. She retired at age 60 and moved to the Irish Hills, bought a pontoon, nurtured flower gardens, and joined the Red Hat Society. For the last 25 years she has enjoyed her community in Tecumseh, Mich., school “reading buddy,” cards with neighbors, Altar Society, Prayer Warriors, bible studies, church events, and grandchildren’s activities. She is known as “Grammy” to many young people in Tecumseh.
The Koledo house had an open-door policy and there was always room for one more in the living room or at the dinner table. Looking back, this was an organic example of Christian fellowship – welcome people, feed people, listen, acknowledge, accept.
From a young age, Marian had a relationship with God which deepened with the inevitable struggles of life. She relied on personal relationships with her local priests, especially Father Mulligan from college, Father Ed Prus at Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, and Father Dan Wheeler at St. Elizabeth in Tecumseh, Mich.
Marian is survived by her children, Lisa (Dean) Mack, of Fort Myers, Fla./Portage, Ind.; Cindy (Bill Caballero) DeAlmeida, of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Julie Koledo, of Marshall, Mich.; Mary McCloud, of Tecumseh, Mich.; Martha (Brian) Morgan, of Rochester, Mich.; Edward (Bridget) Koledo, of Linden, Mich.; and Elizabeth (Dan) McCourt, of Royal Oak, Mich.
Her 18 grandchildren know her as a card-playing Grammy who loved to laugh, was devoted to God, and gave good advice: Michael (Katie) VerLee, Heather (Bobby) Booras, David (Lydia) VerLee, and Kevin (Emily) VerLee; Danny (Molly) and Veronica DeAlmeida; John Marc and Helen Belanger; Morgan, Mallory, and Molly McCloud; Bryan and Katy Culver; Emily and Bobby Morgan; MacKenzie McElroy; and Jimmy and Tony Koledo.
She is “GiGi” to her 16 great-grandchildren, Adelyn, Weston, Gideon, Nathan, Justin, Marian, Asher, Aila, Noah, Ethan, Gus, Chloe, Jovie, Myla, Mason, Lucy.
Marian’s funeral Mass is Thursday, June 18, at 12 p.m., at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Tecumseh, Mich. Visitation is Wednesday, June 17, from 2-8 p.m., at Handler Funeral Home in Tecumseh, Mich., with Rosary at 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, Little Mews Rescue in Tecumseh, and Masses said on her behalf.