Marian Little Reardon

Marian Little Reardon, 80, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Monday, November 27, 2017 in her Grosse Pointe Woods, MI home after suffering from Alzheimers for a number of years. She was born on April 14, 1937 in Denver, Colorado to Joseph Francis and Jane Cottrell Little. She was the youngest of their four children. She was predeceased by her sister Betty Little Starbuck, and is survived by her oldest sister Joanne Little OKane, and her brother David Cottrell Little who both live in metro Denver. Marian graduated from St. Marys Academy in Denver and the University of Colorado in Boulder where she majored in business and studied art. She was happily married to Michael Peter Reardon (Mike) for 58 years. They wed in Denver days after Mike graduated from the first class of the United States Air Force Academy in 1959; as part of Mikes military service, she moved her family 13 times in her first 14 years of marriage. She loved the adventures they had living and traveling all over the world and in all parts of this country. Marian could make any place a home in record time and was known for her gracious hospitality, compassion and organizational skills. In addition to numerous and varied civic engagements, she served on the Board of Directors for Cottrells, the mens clothing business her grandfather founded in 1893. She was the loving mother of four children Maura Campbell (Duncan), Michaela Prchlik (Michael), Brian Reardon (Lynn), Joseph Reardon (Kristin) and 11 grandchildren Alexandra Maegdlin (Tom), Meredith Campbell, Connor Campbell (Ashley), Katie, Sara and Megan Prchlik, Jack and Hadley Reardon, Audrey, Marian and Eleanor Reardon. She also had a large and loving extended family of nieces, nephews and cousins. In the early 1980s, Marian was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to serve on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS) where she served as the Parliamentarian for the committees leadership board. This appointment, with its rank of General, meant she outranked her Colonel husband, which was the source of good-natured ribbing in the family. She and her husband lived in Arlington, Virginia for nearly 25 years until they moved to Grosse Pointe three years ago. Marian was a devout Catholic who was very involved in her Arlington, Virginia parish for many years. She enjoyed current events and politics, travel, needlework, gardening, staying fit and spending time with friends and family, especially her grandchildren. She was always thankful her youngest son attended and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in nearby Annapolis, Maryland so she could easily visit and cheer him on at his diving meets. She and husband Mike enjoyed dancing, often gaining the admiration of others for their skill. While living in DC, they took Viennese Waltz lessons at the Austrian Embassy. A funeral Mass will be held on Monday, December 4 at noon at St. Pauls on the Lake Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Farms followed by a reception at The Rivers, 900 Cook Road in Grosse Pointe Woods. There will be a Memorial Service in March 2018 at the United States Air Force Academy. Her ashes will be interred at the Academys columbarium. Those wishing to make a donation in her memory may do so to the Alzheimers Association. The mailing address is: 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, Il 60601.

Funeral Home:

A. H. Peters Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe

20705 Mack Avenue

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

US 48236