Mary Elizabeth Crile

CRILE, Mary Elizabeth (nee: Lucci). November 9, 2026. Age 70. Beloved wife of Michael. Loving mother of Alexander Crile (Sandy Lim) and Jim Crile. Proud and loving grandmother of Andrew Crile. Dear sister of Serena Lehman (James) and the late Jimmy, Daniel, and Chris Lucci. If you ever had the pleasure of meeting Mary Elizabeth Crile (née Lucci), then you were one of the lucky ones. She passed away on Monday, November 9, 2026, at the age of 70. Mary’s life was marked by humor and humility, hardship and ingenuity. At just eight years old, Mary was making headlines when she won the watermelon-eating contest at the Michigan State Fair by beating a whole group of boys several years older than she was. She said she was so hungry that she devoured the watermelon, hardly thinking about the contest. She treasured her first-place ribbon and the newspaper article about her victory. And if you were one of the lucky ones, you got to hear the story from Mary herself. Mary got married at the young age of 20 and celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2026 with her beloved husband Michael Crile. Despite great financial hardship and having two children — Alex and Jimmy — in quick succession, Mary had a way of making life joyful. It was the little things. Before there was Google and AI, there was Mary Crile, who figured out that if you put wax paper under your butt on a metal slide, you went down faster. Before there was DoorDash, Mary sometimes brought you McDonald’s at school to the envy of all your peers. And when there was a field trip, everybody wanted to be in Mrs. Crile’s group. She was the cool chaperone. Mary’s joy and care permeated her immediate family, but as she grew older, they spread well beyond it. She had a knack for spending a little money to maximize joy. One Christmas, she wrapped up a box of Super Sugar Crisp for one family member. Sugar cereal was contraband in that household, and the recipient opened the box with joy. And we all watched in awe. Before there was unboxing, there was Mary Crile. Although Mary aspired to become a nurse, when she worked outside the home, it was usually as a secretary or receptionist. Mary Crile was an expert typist. On one typing test: 70 words per minute—no mistakes. She spent several years working at Nightingale Nursing Home as a receptionist. And if you were one of the residents in those days, you were one of the lucky ones. Mary listened to the residents’ stories and hardships as they walked up to her desk or wheeled themselves over. She bought them treats from vending machines and took their stories to heart. She would almost always come home an hour or two late and repeat their stories to her family. For many patients in the nursing home, Mary was their only visitor, the closest thing to family. Mary’s financial hardships turned to strengths as the Internet age dawned. All those countless hours shopping at thrift stores and the Salvation Army made Mary quite an astute shopper. She used eBay from the late 1990s until her death. Early on, she did not understand the technology involved. For instance, once she deleted the eBay icon on the desktop and panicked, thinking she had deleted eBay itself! But she eventually figured it out. She was most proud of the auction in which she sold her unmarked Tiffany glass lampshade. Her cost? $2. Final auction price: $930! Mary Crile: Antique Hunter! Mary’s care for others was extraordinary. With help from her husband, Michael, Mary cared for her father, Vincent Lucci, during the last weeks of his life, watched over her brother Daniel, and cared for Jimmy Lucci for several years until his death. For little compensation, she took on responsibilities that might have led others to seek nursing-home care. Not Mary, however. If you were old and needed care or someone to look out for you, and you knew Mary Crile, you were one of the lucky ones. Not only did Mary take care of humans—she took care of animals as well. Even after Jimmy Lucci passed on, Mary continued to take care of the cats and kittens in the neighborhood. At home, Mary had two cats and cared for several outdoor cats, feeding them and practicing trap–neuter–return (TNR): having the cats spayed or neutered before returning them outdoors. Mary and Michael’s garage also served as a refuge for animals, with little homes where they could die in peace. In this there was both joy and heartache. Sometimes they watched a groundhog with awe and curiosity. At other times, they witnessed a slow but dignified death. Mary found enough beauty in an opossum’s death to weep for it, because it, too, was one of God’s creatures. Mary also fed many species of birds, kept beautiful pictures of blue jays in flight, and was known to nurse injured birds back to health. These were the lucky ones. Yet Mary Crile was also a very critical person. If you bragged about yourself, she doubted. If you had a great family, she was suspicious. If you sent her a Christmas card with your family update, watch out! In fact, Mary would make fun of her own obituary, except for the fact that it is absolutely true. Despite her accomplishments and joys in life, Mary missed those who moved on, missed her childhood, and missed the joys of youth. During the Christmas season, it was characteristic of Mary to blare Motown music and weep, unable to explain exactly why. This Christmas will be different. Mary has been reunited with those who have come before, and she is happy and at peace. But in her characteristic, understated way of asking for help, Mary would ask us: “If you don’t mind, and if it is not too much trouble for you, next time you turn up the radio this Christmas, can you remember me?” So, this Christmas, let us remember Mary and shed some tears. She is gone. She is not here. But when Jesus calls her, she shall rise again. And Mary Crile shall be one of the lucky ones. Memorial Visitation will be held on Friday, November 20, 2026 from 4-8pm at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons, Inc., 36900 Schoenherr at Metro Parkway (16 Mile). Memorial Gathering will be held on Saturday, November 20, 2026 from 9:30am until the time of Mass at St Mary, Our Lady Queen of Families 8075 Ritter St, Center Line, MI 48015. Please share memories with the family at their online guestbook @ WujekCalcaterra.com

Mary Elizabeth Crile

December 12, 1955 - November 9, 2026