Ruivo, Marion
Ann Arbor, MI
Her Legacy… Marion Jemi Ruivo, 85, passed away February 13, 2025. She was born on July 13, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan to Angelo Cassar and Victoria (Sultana) Cassar. Marion married the love of her life, Jose “Joe” Ruivo, on June 26, 1971, at Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, Michigan. She will be remembered as a lifelong teacher who also loved to learn. At the age of 14 Marion entered the Adrian Dominican Sisters and there she completed high school and earned her BA in teaching. She spent the next 16 years at teaching assignments throughout the state of Michigan before leaving the Community in 1970. She had a 47-year teaching career in Catholic Schools and many of those years were spent at St. Anselm School in Dearborn Heights, MI. She had unshakable faith all throughout her life and loved to share her faith with others. She began each day with gratitude and finished each day with praise. Serving God was at the center of her life, especially with her incredible church family at St. Joseph Parish. Loving her family well was a top priority and she never forgot a birthday or a chance to be compassionate during hard times. She enjoyed an episode or two of Gunsmoke each day to round things out, presumably because the “good guys” always won, and justice always prevailed.
Her Family… Marion will be missed by her children, Patricia (Rick) Hindman, Vicki (Juan) Echegoyen, Ruth (Bryan) Kowalk; siblings; James Cassar (Patricia), Frances Savel (Thomas), George Cassar(Shelly), Victoria Cassar, Rita Savel, Carmen Schwarze (Edward), Joseph Cassar (Kathy), Michael Cassar (Susan), Clement Cassar (Bonnie)Theresa Masek (Jordan), brother in law, Albert Ruivo, sister in law Tina Ruivo, grandchildren, Anthony (Melissa) Ruivo, Donald Baker, Stacey (Pauly) Baker-Puia, Ebony (Samuel) Jones, Cali (Ryan) Snyder, Vinnie (Olivia Ponce De Leon) Curlee, Roxana and Marina Echegoyen and Lincoln and Garrett Kowalk; 7 beloved great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews on both the Ruivo and Cassar/Sultana sides whom she adored. She had numerous step grandchildren and step great grandchildren who enriched her life. She is preceded in death by her husband, Jose “Joe” Ruivo; parents, Angelo and Victoria Cassar; daughter, Tina Ruivo; son, Dennis Ruivo (Nancy) grandsons, Adam Ruivo, Deshone Moore, Jason Baker, sister, Antoinette (Jose’) Portelli and several brothers and sisters in law on the Ruivo side.
Her Farewell… Marion’s family and friends will gather Thursday, February 20, 2025, from 4:00PM-8:00PM (7PM Scripture Service), at St. Joseph Catholic Country Church, 6805 Mast Road, Dexter, Michigan. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 21, 2025, at 10:00AM (9AM visitation gathering), at St. Joseph Catholic Country Church, Dexter, Michigan. Father Brendan Walsh will serve as presider. Memorial contributions are suggested to one of Marion’s Favorite charities: doctorswithoutborders.org.
