Martha D. Lecuru (nee Stannard), age 90 and a life-long resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan, peacefully entered eternal life on the Feast of The Holy Family, Sunday, December 29, 2024, following five years of declining health.
Born to William A. and Alice A. (Hannon) Stannard in 1934, Martha was a proud graduate of Central High School and enjoyed working for many years with her friends on the Class of 1953 reunion committees.
After graduating from Western Michigan University in 1957 where she was a member of the Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority, Martha taught Kindergarten in the Grand Rapids Public School District for five years at Palmer and Mulick Park Schools before leaving to raise her family. A founding member of St. Paul the Apostle parish and a devoted homemaker, Martha enjoyed gardening, needlework, attending art fairs, and making her home a warm and lovely haven for her family.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Richard H. Lecuru in 1990, and despite her sorrow at his passing, she showed an admirable can-do spirit of hopeful determination and perseverance in her 35 years of widowhood. Always intellectually curious about a wide range of subjects, Martha enjoyed learning. Her love of God, family, home, and country are a beautiful legacy that her family honors and embraces.
Martha leaves to cherish her memory her dear daughters Caroline (Paul) Viviano of Clinton Twp. and Rebecca (Patrick) Smiggen of Ada, and her grandchildren in whom she took special delight: Joe (Katie) Viviano, Elizabeth (Chad) Gurica, Rebecca (James) Argue, Cecilia (Peter) Bourget, and Charlotte Smiggen. Martha also enjoyed the blessing of four great-grandchildren: James and Anthony Gurica, and Miriam and Rose Viviano. Martha leaves behind her devoted sister Dianne Quigley of Grand Rapids and her faithful sister-in-law Miriam Johnson of New Carlisle, Indiana.
Her family expresses their deepest gratitude to the compassionate and capable staff of Provision Living at Forest Hills where Martha happily resided for the last four years of her life.
Her family welcomes you to her visitation on Thursday, January 2, 2025, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm and from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at O’Brien Eggebeen Gerst Funeral Home: 3980 Cascade Rd. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. A Rosary will be prayed starting at 8:15 pm.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 3, 2025, at 11:00 am at the Basilica of St. Adalbert where Martha worshiped for many years, located at 654 Davis Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am.
Her family kindly suggests that masses may be said for Martha and/or memorial donations made to any chapter of the Knights of Columbus, including at the Basilica of St. Adalbert, or online at kofc.org.