He was born on February 16, 1937, in Republic, Pennsylvania. Mick proudly served in the US Army as Military Police and was stationed in Germany. He attended the University of Detroit, where he studied Liberal Arts. He then married the love of his life, Marlene, in 1965. Together, they raised five wonderful children: Greg, Michael, Julie, Mandy, and PJ. He was a lifelong devout Catholic who served as a Eucharistic Minister. Mick was also a long-serving volunteer at the St. Vincent de Paul Pharmacy in Bay St. Louis. A cause close to his heart. Mick was an avid lover of golf, Frank Sinatra, Oklahoma and Rams football. Didn't matter if it was baseball or football, if you needed to know the most random coach, player, or game stat he had you covered. His family will miss his witty sense of humor, his endless movie knowledge and ability to solve any crossword puzzle. He was a longtime resident of both Slidell, LA, and Diamondhead, MS.
He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Marlene. Along with his devoted children Greg Tavernit (Jessica), Michael Tavernit (Michele), Julie Ricca (Neil), Mandy Amato (Brandon), and PJ Tavernit (Sarah). He also has 14 beloved grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. He is also survived by his brother, Jim Tavernit, sister, Rosalie Huetteman and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Domenico and Rose Tavernit, brothers Anthony and Sam, and sisters Madeline, Caroline, and Marion.
The family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Mick's caregivers, all those at Compassus, Diane and Shea, as well as all those who provided exceptional care to him during his time of need.
A memorial service to celebrate Mick's life will be held on Friday, December 22, 2023 at St. George Catholic Church. Visitation will be held at the church from 1:30 - 3:00 pm with mass directly after. Followed by a celebration of life at 7111 Village Charmant Unit 130, Baton Rouge, LA 70810.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to St. Vincent de Paul in Mick’s name.