Obituary: Mary Margaret Cadeau

As received from the Jacobson Funeral Home: 

Mary Margaret Cadeau, 74, a long-time resident of Baraga, MI passed away on Tuesday, June 25th at her current home in DeFuniak Springs, FL lovingly surrounded by some of her children, grandchild, twin sister, brother-in-law, family, friends and neighbors.

She was born on August 31, 1949 in La Junta, CO, a twin daughter of James Briscoe and Margaret Robinson Briscoe. Mary graduated from Leesville High School, LA with honors. In high school, Mary was a princess in the Sweetheart Beauty Court judged by Pat Boone. She met John Mark Cadeau, while he was serving in the U.S. Army, and married him on June 17, 1967 in Fort Polk, LA. She received her MSU Extension certificates in Master Canning & Gardening.

Mary was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She ran an adult foster care business with her husband, John, and worked as a home care aide as well as various side jobs over the years. She served as a deacon’s wife from June 9th, 2006 serving the Catholic communities of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Zeba MI; Sacred Heart of Jesus, L’ Anse, MI; St. Anne’s in Baraga, MI; and Most Holy Name of Jesus/St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Assinins, MI.

She volunteered singing in the Most Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church choir, and with the Sacred Heart chapter of St. Vincent de Paul in L’ Anse, MI. She was also a volunteer school bus driver for Sacred Heart Catholic School in L’ Anse, MI; and a volunteer for the Baraga Assinins – Baraga Center (ABC Schoolhouse) and Baraga County Historical Society; 4-H and Boy Scouts. She was a member of the Bishop Baraga Association and the Bishop Baraga Shrine Foundation. She and her husband hosted an exchange student from France, Helene Jullien Prunier, for a year through the Youth for Understanding exchange program. In Florida, Mary was a member of St. Margaret’s of Scotland and Our Lady of Victory catholic churches; the DFS Women’s Club, and DFS Women’s Garden Club.

Mary met her husband square dancing and enjoyed dancing with him for many years. She sewed matching square dance outfits, shirts and dresses, baby clothes and children’s toys. She continued to enjoy home economics, sewing, painting, coloring, crafting and gardening. Her joy came from singing and being a part of the Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group in Baraga and L’ Anse, MI for many decades. A devoted wife & (military) mother of 8, grandmother of 7, she was very active in the Catholic Community. Mary loved music and art and had a special way with animals, especially dogs. She was fascinated with butterflies and birds. She enjoyed accompanying her husband to their family land to make maple syrup and explore the woods.

Surviving children are La Vonne Cadeau of Baraga, MI; A. Chimene (Charles) Puska of DeFuniak Springs, FL.; Celestine (Yoom) Nguyen of Grosse Pointe Farms, MI; Monique (Joe Dudo) Cadeau of L’Anse, MI; Daniel (Jenny) Cadeau of L’ Anse, MI; Benjamin (Tara Cadeau) Cadeau of Pensacola, FL; Jean-Baptiste (Destiny) Cadeau of Pensacola, FL; siblings Patsy Hernandez of Albuquerque, NM, Georgia Schmidt of Livingston, TX, Jama (Lyndon) Flynn of Lumberton, TX; Grand-children, Gabrielle, Logan, Evan, Enya, Jade, Billy-Ann, Hailey, Joseph, and Emma; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Preceding her in death are her parents; her husband John Mark Cadeau; children, John Mark, Jr., Andre, Madeline, Zebulon and James.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Vincent de Paul 14 S. Main Street in L’ Anse, MI 49946 or Sacred Heart Catholic School 433 Baraga Avenue, L’ Anse, MI 49946 in her memory.

Visitation will be held on Monday, July 15th, 2024 from 1 to 3 pm at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in L’Anse, MI. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated at 3 pm at Sacred Heart of Jesus in L’Anse with Fr. Corey Litzner. Burial will be in the Baraga Cemetery. A luncheon will follow in the church hall.

Jacobson Funeral Home is assisting the family. Friends may sign Mary’s guestbook or send condolences to www.jacobsonfuneralhome.com.