Mary Louise Diggs

Mary Louise Pawlik was born on July 21, 1940, to Clara and Stanley. She was the baby sister to Geraldine and would later become a big sister to Larry. Marylou, as she became known to most, was an active student in, and proud alum, of St. Andrew. After high school graduation, she attended the University of Detroit, before becoming a telephone operator at Michigan Bell.

Marylou met Larry Diggs at her best friend Barbara Michalik’s house. He was a friend of Barbara’s brother, and would go on to become her husband of over sixty years. The couple wed on May 26, 1962, and started their life together in Detroit. There they welcomed Gregory Lawrence and then Lisa Louise into their family. Eventually the foursome moved to Livonia, where Marylou and Larry have remained.

From those first days when Marylou and Barbara ran off to Saugatuck for a weekend, right up until the end, Marylou loved to travel. Before her kids even graduated from high school, they had been to 49 states, and would add Alaska to the list shortly thereafter. She rode a horse in the Badlands and a camel in Egypt. She cheered on Team USA at the Olympics in Los Angeles and watched Chrissy and Martina square off at Wimbledon. She walked across the Golden Gate Bridge, took in the sunset atop the Eiffel Tower, and ventured out on safari in South Africa. All in all, Marylou visited more than 20 countries. In her later years she went on countless road trips around the state of Michigan with her daughter, and always found something unique and fun to recount to others.

Marylou was clever, thoughtful, and quick-witted. For years she was what was often referred to as a stay-at-home mom, but that was hardly an apt description. She was a volunteer librarian, classroom assistant, Cub Scout den mother, and virtually never missed one of her children’s games or activities. She even once surprised her southpaw husband and daughter by decorating the house for National Lefthanders Day.

She didn’t just take great care of the family in her own home either. For decades, Marylou provided care and assistance to her parents and her husband’s family. Whether it was grocery shopping, doctor visits, or end of life care, Marylou was always there. Then there was her family abroad in Poland. During the difficult years associated with the country being under Martial Law, she sent countless letters of encouragement and packages filled with food, clothing, and money to help them get by. She was the kind of person who never waited to be asked before helping someone.

Marylou succumbed to cancer on January 27, 2023, in her home in Livonia. She is survived, and will be deeply missed, by her husband, Lawrence, children Greg and Lisa, sister, Geraldine Grant (Artie), brother Larry Pawlik (Patti), and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will take place at the R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Home, 15451 Farmington Road in Livonia, on Monday, February 20, 2023, beginning at 3:00 PM, with a Rosary at 7:00 PM. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, February 21, at St. Edith’s Catholic Church, 15089 Newburgh Road, in Livonia. Instate at 10:00 AM.  Memorials may be directed to Capuchin Soup Kitchen or the American Diabetes Association .

Please sign Mary Digg's guestbook.