Mary Catherine Thabet (Donley)
November 16, 1937 - December 6, 2017
Captain U. S. Army Corps Reserve
November 16, 1937 - December 6, 2017
Captain U. S. Army Corps Reserve
Mary graduated from the Mt. Carmel School of Nursing in 1958 and was involved in nursing her entire career.
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She was an active supporter of veterans and belonged to several veteran organizations. She marched regularly in Memorial Day and Veterans Day events.
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Story submitted by Kevin and James Donley, February 24, 2021
Mary Catherine Thabet was born on November 16, 1937 at 6:45 a.m.at St. Francis Hospital in Charleston, West Virginia in Kanawha County. This was the same hospital where her mother and grandmother were born. She weighed 8 lb. 10 1/2 oz., was 27 inches long, had blue eyes and brown hair, and was delivered by Dr. E.A. Litzsinger. She was the first of eight children. Her father was Mansour “Jim” Hana Thabet, age 40, from Kfeir, Syria (now Lebanon) and owner of The Greenland Restaurant in South Charleston. Her mother was Virginia Frances Risk, age 23, from Charleston, West Virginia and a housewife. DNA suggests that Virginia Risk had Kfeirian roots as well. The family resided at 151 B 8th Street.
Mary was baptized by Father Cuthbert at St. Anthony's Church in Charleston at 2 pm on Dec. 12, 1937. The godparents were her great aunt, Margaret Miller, and Margaret’s son, Charles Miller.
According to her baby book, which includes a lock of her hair, her first toy was a rattle. She got her first tooth at 10 months and her first shoes were for Easter in 1938. Her first words were "Shut up”, which says something about her childhood.
By the 1940 U.S. Census in Charleston, West Virginia, Mary C. Thabet and family lived at 223 7th Avenue, South Charleston and she was two years old. The home was being rented for $28 per month. Her father, James was 40 (actually 43) and had achieved a 6th grade education. He worked 90 hours on a given week in the past month (March 24-30) at their restaurant (The Greenland). His wife Virginia was 26 and was a high school grad. She was a housewife. Also living in the home were children Jo Ann (age one), and John Farris (two months), both born in West Virginia.
On November 15, 1943, Miss Mary Catherine of 213 D Street, South Charleston received a letter from the Phoenician Auxiliary thanking her for her help in making the "Fun Frolic" event a success. She was six years old.
Mary’s medical record for preschool on September 5, 1944 showed she already had the measles and chickenpox and received vaccines for smallpox and diphtheria. She went to Central Grade School on C Street and 3rd Avenue in South Charleston for 1st and 2nd grades.
On May 3, 1945, Mary was standing on a chair near the stove and her dress caught on fire. Her sister JoAnn was telling her to run under water. Instead, she ran out of the house to get to her mother who wrapped her in a coat to put out the flames. She was burned on the left arm.
Mary had her First Communion at Blessed Sacrament on E Street in South Charleston.
In May 1946, the family sold the restaurant and moved to 2118 Harper, Mt. Clemens, Michigan, located at the corner of Harper and Metro Parkway (16 Mile). They paid $18,600 for the house. The address later changed to 37317 Harper.
On Feb. 25, 1947 the Thabets opened the Greenland Diner at 272 S. Gratiot Avenue in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. The restaurant license shows they paid $5 for the license and the opening and closing hours were 12:00 - 12:00. They would own the restaurant for 15 years until 1962. Mary spoke often of her young years working in the restaurant.
Mary’s confirmation was made May 1947 at St. Louis Church in Mt. Clemens by Cardinal Mooney. Her sponsor was Emily Konkel.
Mary attended St. Louis High School in Mt. Clemens and was in the Future Nurses Club. In a newspaper article in The Daily Monitor - Leader in Mount Clemens, Mary Thabet and her sister Jo Ann Thabet are featured as members of the Future Nurses Club of St. Louis High School, where they were presented pins at a candlelight ceremony.
In March 1955, Mary performed a solo tap dance at the 2nd Annual Talent Show held at Mount Clemens Auditorium.
The class of 1955 at St. Louis Catholic School was the first graduating class. Mary was its Valedictorian. The headline of an article in the local paper read: "Mary Catherine Thabet and John Savel head St. Louis' First Graduating Class". Mary Catherine Thabet, 17, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Thabet, 37317 Harper. Miss Thabet was president of the Mission club the past three years and vice-president in her freshman year. She was also scribe for two years for the Future Nurses club and an active member of the Young Ladies' Sociality. Planning a nursing career, Miss Thabet will enter Mt. Carmel Hospital for training in September. Mary Catherine Thabet delivered the valedictory address.
On July 15, 1955 the Charleston Daily Mail had an announcement that Mary Catherine Thabet, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Thabet of Mt. Clemens, Michigan, and a former South Charleston resident, would be entering Mt. Carmel School of Nursing in Detroit in the summer. She attended the school until 1958.
In August 1955, Mary lived at 6071 West Outer Drive in Detroit until August 1958, when she moved to 15700 Snowden (corner of midtown) with three roommates.
Mary had a sticker in her scrapbook which was labeled, "Met Bert" on Dec. 15, 1957 at Precious Blood Church. Bert and Mary were engaged on July 10, 1959. According to Mary's scrapbook, it looks like it may have happened at Joe Masters' Rosemond Hills Inn in Farmington Hills. The bar Robin Hoods may have been the afterglow.
On January 14, 1960 Barbara Bondy, JoAnn Thabet and Maureen Cassidy gave a bridal shower for Mary at the house of Barbara Bondy at 2218 Woodland in Royal Oak, Michigan.
Herbert Richard Donley of Detroit, Michigan and Mary Catherine Thabet were married on Jan. 30, 1960 by Father Francis J. Grauger at Precious Blood Church on 13305 Grove Ave. in Detroit. He was 25 and a driver/salesman for the Hall Baking Co. (Mills Bakery). She was 22 and a nurse at Mt. Carmel Hospital. The best man was Andrew Beres and the maid of honor was Jo Ann Thabet.
They started out by renting a lower flat on Fenkell and Griggs in Detroit. They then moved to 18403 Ardmore on the corner of Pickford in Detroit on January 1, 1961.
In 1962, Herbert and Mary became parents, giving birth to Kevin Shaun Donley on Jan. 17. Next came Colleen Marie Donley on April 8, 1963; James Patrick Donley on April 29, 1964; and Richard Joseph Donley on May 7, 1967.
In July 1975 the family moved to 7820 Hartwell, Dearborn, Michigan, where Mary would live for the remainder of her life.
Mary was very active in her children’s lives, volunteering at school, carpooling to sports, and getting involved in extracurricular events. Many adults remember Mary in her VW bus giving kids rides to various functions (the same bus that Mary used to show her kids a majority of the U.S.). Mary told her kids she had good news and bad news. The good news - You are all going to college. The bad news - she was not going to pay for it.
Throughout her career, Mary worked as a nurse in some capacity, including the Emergency and Operating Room at Mt. Carmel in Detroit, and as an ophthalmologist’s assistant and a plastic surgeon's assistant at Providence Hospital. In her later years she worked as a liaison between the insurance companies and the hospitals.
Mary was also a very patriotic person. She joined the U.S. Army Corps Reserve on January 26, 1989 at age 51 as a Lieutenant. She later achieved the status of Captain. She was Honorably Discharged on November 30, 1997 at age 60. During her time serving, the Gulf War broke out on January 17, 1991 in Iraq and ran through February 28, 1991. Mary and her children were concerned she would be called to duty. Fortunately, the war was over quickly with limited casualties so there was not a great need for nurses.
Mary was an active supporter of veterans and belonged to several veteran organizations. She marched regularly in Memorial Day and Veterans Day events. Mary was also an avid blood donor, an active Right to Life protester, supporter of gun rights, and involved with her church. She walked to mass on her own almost every day.
On May 14, 2015, Mary visited the Firing Line Indoor Gun Range in Westland, Michigan. Her age was 77. On the range application she indicated her experience with firearms as Intermediate.
Her leisurely passions included dancing, antiquing, watching Jeopardy, rooting for the Detroit Tigers, and attending anything that involved her children and grandchildren. Her love of family showed with her regular attendance at the Kfeirian Reunion. She returned with her dad and oldest son in 1982 and rarely missed for the next 30 years. She’d often be found sitting at a table with her sister Jo Ann, taking in the event. One of her favorite parts of the reunion was getting on the dance floor during “The Electric Slide.”
In the fall of 2017, Mary Catherine was suffering from severe stomach pains over the course of several weeks. She was diagnosed in the past with IBS and that is what most doctors, and she, believed was the issue. After a couple of emergency visits to Beaumont Dearborn she was transferred to the Critical Care Unit and they discovered a perforation in her small intestine. They immediately performed surgery, however the perforation resulted in sepsis and she died at 7:40 pm on December 6, 2017.
An outpouring of people and organizations including the City of Dearborn, a U.S. Representative for Michigan, Catholic War Veterans, Dearborn Allied Veterans Council, American Legion, The Republicans Club, St. Alphonsus Parish, and others reached out to help. The visitation was on Sunday, December 10 at Stanley Turowski Funeral Home. Mary Catherine was dressed in her full uniform. Two military presentations occurred and there was a visit by the Mayor of Dearborn.
The funeral was on Monday, December 11, 2017 at St. Alphonsus Church in Dearborn. Following the mass there was a military ceremony with a 5-gun salute, taps, and presentation of the colors. Afterwards, there was a luncheon to celebrate her life. Mary was buried at St. Hedwig Cemetery in Dearborn Heights, Michigan in a private family ceremony.
Mary Thabet instilled many values in her children. Faith, family, patriotism, respect of the military and police, and a strong work ethic. As an emergency nurse in Detroit, she saw it all so she never let her kids cry about the little inconveniences. She was stubborn but stuck to her principles. She was taken from this earth way too soon but she left her kids and grandchildren well-prepared. She will be forever missed.
Mary Catherine Thabet was born on November 16, 1937 at 6:45 a.m.at St. Francis Hospital in Charleston, West Virginia in Kanawha County. This was the same hospital where her mother and grandmother were born. She weighed 8 lb. 10 1/2 oz., was 27 inches long, had blue eyes and brown hair, and was delivered by Dr. E.A. Litzsinger. She was the first of eight children. Her father was Mansour “Jim” Hana Thabet, age 40, from Kfeir, Syria (now Lebanon) and owner of The Greenland Restaurant in South Charleston. Her mother was Virginia Frances Risk, age 23, from Charleston, West Virginia and a housewife. DNA suggests that Virginia Risk had Kfeirian roots as well. The family resided at 151 B 8th Street.
Mary was baptized by Father Cuthbert at St. Anthony's Church in Charleston at 2 pm on Dec. 12, 1937. The godparents were her great aunt, Margaret Miller, and Margaret’s son, Charles Miller.
According to her baby book, which includes a lock of her hair, her first toy was a rattle. She got her first tooth at 10 months and her first shoes were for Easter in 1938. Her first words were "Shut up”, which says something about her childhood.
By the 1940 U.S. Census in Charleston, West Virginia, Mary C. Thabet and family lived at 223 7th Avenue, South Charleston and she was two years old. The home was being rented for $28 per month. Her father, James was 40 (actually 43) and had achieved a 6th grade education. He worked 90 hours on a given week in the past month (March 24-30) at their restaurant (The Greenland). His wife Virginia was 26 and was a high school grad. She was a housewife. Also living in the home were children Jo Ann (age one), and John Farris (two months), both born in West Virginia.
On November 15, 1943, Miss Mary Catherine of 213 D Street, South Charleston received a letter from the Phoenician Auxiliary thanking her for her help in making the "Fun Frolic" event a success. She was six years old.
Mary’s medical record for preschool on September 5, 1944 showed she already had the measles and chickenpox and received vaccines for smallpox and diphtheria. She went to Central Grade School on C Street and 3rd Avenue in South Charleston for 1st and 2nd grades.
On May 3, 1945, Mary was standing on a chair near the stove and her dress caught on fire. Her sister JoAnn was telling her to run under water. Instead, she ran out of the house to get to her mother who wrapped her in a coat to put out the flames. She was burned on the left arm.
Mary had her First Communion at Blessed Sacrament on E Street in South Charleston.
In May 1946, the family sold the restaurant and moved to 2118 Harper, Mt. Clemens, Michigan, located at the corner of Harper and Metro Parkway (16 Mile). They paid $18,600 for the house. The address later changed to 37317 Harper.
On Feb. 25, 1947 the Thabets opened the Greenland Diner at 272 S. Gratiot Avenue in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. The restaurant license shows they paid $5 for the license and the opening and closing hours were 12:00 - 12:00. They would own the restaurant for 15 years until 1962. Mary spoke often of her young years working in the restaurant.
Mary’s confirmation was made May 1947 at St. Louis Church in Mt. Clemens by Cardinal Mooney. Her sponsor was Emily Konkel.
Mary attended St. Louis High School in Mt. Clemens and was in the Future Nurses Club. In a newspaper article in The Daily Monitor - Leader in Mount Clemens, Mary Thabet and her sister Jo Ann Thabet are featured as members of the Future Nurses Club of St. Louis High School, where they were presented pins at a candlelight ceremony.
In March 1955, Mary performed a solo tap dance at the 2nd Annual Talent Show held at Mount Clemens Auditorium.
The class of 1955 at St. Louis Catholic School was the first graduating class. Mary was its Valedictorian. The headline of an article in the local paper read: "Mary Catherine Thabet and John Savel head St. Louis' First Graduating Class". Mary Catherine Thabet, 17, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Thabet, 37317 Harper. Miss Thabet was president of the Mission club the past three years and vice-president in her freshman year. She was also scribe for two years for the Future Nurses club and an active member of the Young Ladies' Sociality. Planning a nursing career, Miss Thabet will enter Mt. Carmel Hospital for training in September. Mary Catherine Thabet delivered the valedictory address.
On July 15, 1955 the Charleston Daily Mail had an announcement that Mary Catherine Thabet, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jim Thabet of Mt. Clemens, Michigan, and a former South Charleston resident, would be entering Mt. Carmel School of Nursing in Detroit in the summer. She attended the school until 1958.
In August 1955, Mary lived at 6071 West Outer Drive in Detroit until August 1958, when she moved to 15700 Snowden (corner of midtown) with three roommates.
Mary had a sticker in her scrapbook which was labeled, "Met Bert" on Dec. 15, 1957 at Precious Blood Church. Bert and Mary were engaged on July 10, 1959. According to Mary's scrapbook, it looks like it may have happened at Joe Masters' Rosemond Hills Inn in Farmington Hills. The bar Robin Hoods may have been the afterglow.
On January 14, 1960 Barbara Bondy, JoAnn Thabet and Maureen Cassidy gave a bridal shower for Mary at the house of Barbara Bondy at 2218 Woodland in Royal Oak, Michigan.
Herbert Richard Donley of Detroit, Michigan and Mary Catherine Thabet were married on Jan. 30, 1960 by Father Francis J. Grauger at Precious Blood Church on 13305 Grove Ave. in Detroit. He was 25 and a driver/salesman for the Hall Baking Co. (Mills Bakery). She was 22 and a nurse at Mt. Carmel Hospital. The best man was Andrew Beres and the maid of honor was Jo Ann Thabet.
They started out by renting a lower flat on Fenkell and Griggs in Detroit. They then moved to 18403 Ardmore on the corner of Pickford in Detroit on January 1, 1961.
In 1962, Herbert and Mary became parents, giving birth to Kevin Shaun Donley on Jan. 17. Next came Colleen Marie Donley on April 8, 1963; James Patrick Donley on April 29, 1964; and Richard Joseph Donley on May 7, 1967.
In July 1975 the family moved to 7820 Hartwell, Dearborn, Michigan, where Mary would live for the remainder of her life.
Mary was very active in her children’s lives, volunteering at school, carpooling to sports, and getting involved in extracurricular events. Many adults remember Mary in her VW bus giving kids rides to various functions (the same bus that Mary used to show her kids a majority of the U.S.). Mary told her kids she had good news and bad news. The good news - You are all going to college. The bad news - she was not going to pay for it.
Throughout her career, Mary worked as a nurse in some capacity, including the Emergency and Operating Room at Mt. Carmel in Detroit, and as an ophthalmologist’s assistant and a plastic surgeon's assistant at Providence Hospital. In her later years she worked as a liaison between the insurance companies and the hospitals.
Mary was also a very patriotic person. She joined the U.S. Army Corps Reserve on January 26, 1989 at age 51 as a Lieutenant. She later achieved the status of Captain. She was Honorably Discharged on November 30, 1997 at age 60. During her time serving, the Gulf War broke out on January 17, 1991 in Iraq and ran through February 28, 1991. Mary and her children were concerned she would be called to duty. Fortunately, the war was over quickly with limited casualties so there was not a great need for nurses.
Mary was an active supporter of veterans and belonged to several veteran organizations. She marched regularly in Memorial Day and Veterans Day events. Mary was also an avid blood donor, an active Right to Life protester, supporter of gun rights, and involved with her church. She walked to mass on her own almost every day.
On May 14, 2015, Mary visited the Firing Line Indoor Gun Range in Westland, Michigan. Her age was 77. On the range application she indicated her experience with firearms as Intermediate.
Her leisurely passions included dancing, antiquing, watching Jeopardy, rooting for the Detroit Tigers, and attending anything that involved her children and grandchildren. Her love of family showed with her regular attendance at the Kfeirian Reunion. She returned with her dad and oldest son in 1982 and rarely missed for the next 30 years. She’d often be found sitting at a table with her sister Jo Ann, taking in the event. One of her favorite parts of the reunion was getting on the dance floor during “The Electric Slide.”
In the fall of 2017, Mary Catherine was suffering from severe stomach pains over the course of several weeks. She was diagnosed in the past with IBS and that is what most doctors, and she, believed was the issue. After a couple of emergency visits to Beaumont Dearborn she was transferred to the Critical Care Unit and they discovered a perforation in her small intestine. They immediately performed surgery, however the perforation resulted in sepsis and she died at 7:40 pm on December 6, 2017.
An outpouring of people and organizations including the City of Dearborn, a U.S. Representative for Michigan, Catholic War Veterans, Dearborn Allied Veterans Council, American Legion, The Republicans Club, St. Alphonsus Parish, and others reached out to help. The visitation was on Sunday, December 10 at Stanley Turowski Funeral Home. Mary Catherine was dressed in her full uniform. Two military presentations occurred and there was a visit by the Mayor of Dearborn.
The funeral was on Monday, December 11, 2017 at St. Alphonsus Church in Dearborn. Following the mass there was a military ceremony with a 5-gun salute, taps, and presentation of the colors. Afterwards, there was a luncheon to celebrate her life. Mary was buried at St. Hedwig Cemetery in Dearborn Heights, Michigan in a private family ceremony.
Mary Thabet instilled many values in her children. Faith, family, patriotism, respect of the military and police, and a strong work ethic. As an emergency nurse in Detroit, she saw it all so she never let her kids cry about the little inconveniences. She was stubborn but stuck to her principles. She was taken from this earth way too soon but she left her kids and grandchildren well-prepared. She will be forever missed.
Mary graduated as Valedictorian from St. Louis Catholic High School - Class of 1955.
Mary was a regular attendee of the Kfeirian family reunion and enjoyed dancing with her family. She’s seen doing the Dabke with her son Kevin and daughter-in-law Monica.
Mary reacts to her son James' surprise appearance from Europe at the 65th reunion.
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She joined the U.S. Army Corps Reserve at age 51 and served until age 60, achieving the rank of Captain.
She especially enjoyed line dancing at the reunion and The Electric Slide was her specialty. Seen dancing with sons James and Kevin.
The entire Donley Family including Mary’s four children and nine of her ten grandchildren.
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