Mary E. McPhee

Mary Ellen (nee Kiefer) McPhee, age 95, passed away surrounded by her loving family on May 6, 2026. Mary joined her beloved late husband, Hector, her dear parents, and her many departed siblings and their spouses.

Mary was a warm and devoted mom to her five children: Karen (Robert) Lackey, Kathleen (Robert) Doyle, Brian (Carol) McPhee, Mary (Gary) Ledermann, and John (Kathleen) McPhee. She was an attentive and loving grandma to her thirteen grandchildren, Matthew and Audrey Lackey, Adam (Kat) Doyle, Haley (Anthony) Vizcarra, Evelyn Doyle, Steven McPhee, Max, Anna, Michelle and Ian Ledermann, Thomas (Marissa) Saputo, Kaitlyn Saputo, and Sam McPhee. Mary also delighted in being Gigi to her great-grandson, Kai Doyle. With the exception of her dear sister-in-law, Marilyn Kiefer, Mary was preceded in death by each of her nine siblings and their spouses; Edgar (Martha) Kiefer, William Kiefer, Helen (Edwin) Gaynor, Elenor Kiefer, Elaine (Thomas) Burke, Barbara (Bernard) Fackler, Carol (George) Schulte, Janet (Peter) Smith, and Patricia (Charles) VanHove. She has been reunited as well with Fr. John McPhee, Roderick McPhee, MD, Alexander (Louise) McPhee, and Theresa (George) Gaynor. She was a well-loved aunt by her numerous nieces and nephews and cherished these relationships.

Mary was born on Feb 2, 1931, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Edgar Kiefer and Leta Walmsley. She spent most of her childhood in Michigan, first in Saginaw and then in Grosse Pointe Woods. Mary graduated from Mercy College and worked as a radiologic technologist before marrying Hector McPhee on May 2, 1959. The young couple and their children moved from Detroit to a newly built home in Livonia, where Mary put down deep roots and lived for over sixty years. Her bedrock Catholic faith carried her through significant challenges, including her husband’s health issues while in his forties, necessitating her return to work, and the loss of her beloved husband in 2005. She enjoyed working for many years as a radiologic technologist before retiring in the early 1990s. While she was reluctant to leave her wonderful neighbors, Mary moved to independent senior living in Northville in 2024, where she made many new friends and inspired others with her gentle and gracious spirit.

In her earlier years, Mary volunteered frequently at school, made ceramics, played golf, welcomed an assortment of pets, and had an active social life. As an empty nester, she and her husband traveled widely in Europe and spent every year vacationing on Longboat Key, Florida. She continued her strong ethos of volunteering throughout her life, and delivered Meals on Wheels, drove the elderly (often younger than herself) to appointments, and sang in the St. Collette’s Church choir. Mary’s entire life was defined by her love of God and her devotion to family. She never missed church or forgot a birthday or anniversary, and her children constantly remarked that she had the best memory of all of them. Throughout her life, she remained adventurous and open to new experiences, including riding a jet ski in her 80s and boating with family even into her 90s. An avid reader of biographies and historical fiction, she shared her favorite books freely with friends and family. She was known to be both extremely kind and stubbornly independent, and due to her youthful appearance and lively brain, was frequently mistaken for being younger than she was. Those who met her often commented that she was an inspiration to them and an example of aging with grace and dignity.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 14, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Harry J. Will Funeral Home, 37000 Six Mile Rd, Livonia, MI, 48152, with a scripture service at 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be held privately. Mary will be laid to rest at St. Hedwig Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated to the American Heart Association.