Marcia Louise Host

Marcia Host was a warm and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Modeling a lifetime of giving to others in need, she lived her life to the fullest. Marcia especially loved to celebrate the many successes of her close-knit family over the years. She embraced all that life had to offer and never looked back with regret. Known for her optimism and beautiful smile, Marcia will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who were privileged to know and love her.

In 1933 Edmund and Marianne (Karston) Karasiewicz welcomed home their newborn baby girl, Marcia Louis Host on February 23, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her father was a furniture maker and her mother was a seamstress for a furniture company as well as a homemaker. Born the youngest of two children, her birth brought great joy to her older sister, Lucille.

Growing up on the west side of Grand Rapids, she and Lucille lived a typical childhood of the times. Attending St. James Catholic School, her parents instilled in her a strong Christian foundation. As a young girl, she loved to paint as well as make her way around a kitchen. She went on to study at West Catholic Middle before entering high school at Catholic Central High. Marcia spent much time with her aunts, uncles, and cousins during her developing years, and learned the art of hospitality from her parents and extended family.

She met the love of her life, Joseph Paul Host while in high school. Graduating with the Class of 1951, the high school sweethearts continued dating until they joined in marriage on August 7, 1954, at St. James Catholic Church. The newlyweds took a romantic honeymoon to Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula and began making plans to build their dream home on Cordes Ave in Alpine Township. Together they raised four wonderful children; Mari, Fred, Jeanne, and JoAnne.

Marcia cherished her role as a mother. She and Joe raised them up with the same set of strong values they had as children. As a family, they were members Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Marcia devoted herself to ensuring they had the very best of everything. Marcia was an active parent who attended their special events and made sure that their holidays included her delicious spread of traditional treasures as well as her homemade donuts and apple dumplings. Marcia loved to cook Sunday dinners for the family, including her own and Joe’s parents, often preparing her delicious Swiss steak, homemade lasagna, Chop Suey, or rabbit dinners. Marcia balanced her time between her duties at home as well as owning her own small flower shop, Harts Floral on Knapp and Coit Avenue NE in the 1980s. She also worked as a school secretary at Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, and as an accountant assistant in a construction business. By far her most rewarding job, however, was that of a wife, mother, and grandmother. Absolutely nothing filled her heart more than the quality time she spent with her growing family over the years.

Retirement afforded the couple many wonderful times together. They both enjoyed traveling with their dear friends, Don and Shirley Robert to the beautiful destinations of California, Arizona, and Durango, Colorado. They were season ticket holders to the Grand Rapids Civic Theater where they valued many wonderful musicals and performances with numerous friends from their church family. Marcia never missed an opportunity to entertain the family at their Lake Michigan cottage or at their property known as, “The Barn” in Lowell. The family enjoyed countless memories taking fall hayrides and enjoying bonfires together. She looked forward to catching up on their lives and sharing in their journeys. Marcia also could be counted on for running her grandchildren to the sporting events, doctor appointments, or picking them up from school. She loved to be actively involved with each and every one of their lives. She was a consistent loving presence and held the family together in times of need or crisis. Her nurturing ways will be her greatest legacy.

A woman of many interests, Marcia volunteered at Gilda's Club for many years and even her first battle with cancer didn’t seem to slow her down. She fought it with both chemo and radiation and kept herself busy for several years until it returned. Her last years were spent at Story Point in Rockford, in independent living where Joe and her children tenderly cared for her. Described as creative, dedicated, and generous beyond measure, Marcia will be deeply missed by her loving family and many special friends. May they be comforted in knowing just how much they meant to her and how blessed they were to have shared in so many rich memories with her over the course of their years together.

Marcia Louise Host went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, February 26, 2019, with her loving family by her side after a long battle with cancer. She was a longtime member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church. She is survived by her loving husband, Joseph, her children; Mari Claire (Jim) Stone, Fredrick Joseph (Mary Pollock- Host) Host, Jeanne Marie (Dennis) Wiest, and JoAnne Marie (Mark) VanSlooten, her grandchildren; Jessica Stone, Matthew Stone, Jacquelyn (Austin) Wiest Brown, Luke Wiest, Sarah VanSlooten, Ashley (Jeovani) VanSlooten Pantoja, Emily VanSlooten, and TJ VanSlooten, great-grandchildren; Chloe Andoni, Lena Chase, Eden Stone, and Luis Mateo Pantoja, as well as great-great-grandson Ayden Vasquez. Visitation will be held at Heritage Lifestory Funeral Home, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. on Friday, March 1, from 2:00 - 4:00 pm, and 6:00 - 8:00 pm, with the scripture service prayed at 7:30 pm at the funeral home. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, March 2, at 11:00 am, at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, 6390 Belmont Ave, NE in Belmont, MI 49306, with visitation at the church on Saturday from 10:00 am until the Mass begins at 11:00 am. Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Hospice. To sign Marcia’s guest book and to leave your own memory of her, visit her web page at www.lifestorynet.com

Marcia Louise Host went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, February 26, 2019, with her loving family by her side after a long battle with cancer. She was a longtime member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church. She is survived by her loving husband, Joseph, her children; Mari Claire (Jim) Stone, Fredrick Joseph (Molly Pollock- Host) Host, Jeanne Marie (Dennis) Wiest, and JoAnne Marie (Mark) VanSlooten, her grandchildren; Jessica Stone, Matthew Stone, Jacquelyn (Austin) Wiest Brown, Luke Wiest, Sarah VanSlooten, Ashley (Jeovani) VanSlooten Pantoja, Emily VanSlooten, and TJ VanSlooten, great-grandchildren; Chloe Andoni, Lena Chase, Eden Stone, and Luis Mateo Pantoja, as well as great-great-grandson Ayden Vasquez. Visitation will be held at Heritage Lifestory Funeral Home, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. on Friday, March 1, from 2:00 - 4:00 pm, and 6:00 - 8:00 pm, with the scripture service prayed at 7:30 pm at the funeral home. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, March 2, at 11:00 am, at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, 6390 Belmont Ave, NE in Belmont, MI 49306, with visitation at the church on Saturday from 10:00 am until the Mass begins at 11:00 am. Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Hospice. To sign Marcia’s guest book and to leave your own memory of her, visit her web page at www.lifestorynet.com