Mary Jennie Bravatto

IRONWOOD, Mich. - Mary Jennie Bravatto, 92, of Bessemer, passed away Thursday, Nov.14, 2013, in Ironwood. She was born in Bessemer on Jan. 3, 1921, daughter of the late Massimo and Mamie (Borgo) Mattie.

Mary Jennie attended Anvil and Ramsay grade schools and graduated from the Luther L. Wright High School in Ironwood. She was an active member of St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Bessemer. She taught catechism, sang in the choir and was a life member of the Daughters of Isabella. She also taught catechism for Father Neil Smith in Ramsay. She worked for many years as assistant secretary to the Bessemer Township treasurer and for 25 years at St. Vincent DePaul. With her late husband Joseph, who worked for Wilbert Vaults of Ramsay, she also drove truck, made name plates and worked at the gravesite.

She was united in marriage to the Joseph M. Bravatto Sr. on Aug. 28, 1937, at St. Peter's Catholic Cathedral in Marquette by Msgr. Joseph L. Zyrd. Her husband, Joseph, preceded her in death on March 26, 1995.

She is survived by her sons, Joseph M. Bravatto Jr. of Ironwood, and John "Jack" Bravatto of Bessemer; a sister, Savina Kyrola, of Bessemer; grandchildren, Jenny Lynn Bravatto, of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., Jaqueline Kuklinski, of Ironwood, Joseph "J.B." (Adrian Birkmeir) Bravatto III, of Ironwood, Amy (Kirk) Goldberg, of Elko, Minn., Sarah Bravatto, of London, England, Erin (Al Johnson) Bravatto, of Shanghai, China, Jason Bravatto, of St. Paul, Nathan (Lucy) Bravatto, of Oshkosh, Wis., Justin (Mallory) Bravatto, of Sault St. Marie, and Elizabeth (Lucas) Daniels, of Ironwood; five great-grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren, and nieces, Nancy Wiita and Kathy Caudell.

Besides her parents and husband, Mary Jennie was preceded in death her son, James, and her brother, James, in infancy.

A private Mass of Christian Burial was held at the St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Bessemer. Rev. Antony Lukka was the celebrant. Burial will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Sebastian Catholic Church.

Range Funeral Service Inc. and the Frick-Zielinski Funeral Home of Bessemer has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.