Marianne Kathleen DeFauw

Marianne Kathleen DeFauw, age 84, passed away on Wednesday, 7 October 2020 in Cleveland, Mississippi. She was a talented musician (piano and keyboards), artist (oil paintings), loving mother, and faithful friend. Born in Detroit Michigan, 18 August 1936, she was the daughter of Andrew Bulther and Marie Bulther (maiden name Schneider). Marianne graduated from Edwin Denby High School in 1953; some may remember she played glockenspiel and vibraphone in the marching band and orchestra. At her best, Marianne enjoyed life close to shorelines - especially those of Lake St. Clair, Lake Huron, Elk Lake and along the Clinton River of Michigan. Marianne served as an Executive Secretary to the Comptroller as well as Vice Presidents and various Directors (marketing, purchasing, facilities engineering) of Federal Mogul Corporation (Southfield, MI); she was retired 14 May 1986 after 25+ years. During that corporate interval, she enrolled in various business law, accounting, and marketing courses from Oakland Community College, Macomb Community College and University of Michigan Extension Services. After "retirement", Marianne was employed by William H. Schmidt Associates, St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kelly Services Inc, Entech Services Inc, and the St. Clair Shores Yacht Club. She was a dedicated volunteer for the National Secretaries Association, Channel 56 (PBS), various animal rescue organizations, and former long-term Parish Education staff member of Mt. Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church (Detroit, Michigan). Marianne was a strong and steady charitable supporter of several Native American schools (grades K-12). For over thirty years, Marianne also brightened the days of hundreds of senior citizens from Michigan to Mississippi by playing sing-along-piano sessions at nursing homes, rehab facilities, and senior centers. Marianne moved to the Mississippi Delta in the Spring of 2018 to be closer to her family. She was a devoted sister to Ruth Lois Gerlach (deceased), Robert S. Bulther (deceased) and formerly married to Robert John DeFauw (of Grosse Pointe Park, MI). Marianne is survived by her loving daughter, Sherri Lynn DeFauw, son-in-law, Patrick James English (of Cleveland, MS), and a widely-scattered host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Family members would appreciate any memorial donations or special tributes for Marianne to be made to the Solanus Casey Center (www.solanuscenter.org), the Michigan Humane Animal Shelter (www.michiganhumane.org) or Paw Prints Rescue Center (Cleveland, MS).