Mary Ellen Pelikan

PELIKAN, Mary Ellen - age 76 of Clayton Twp., died November 9, 2022. Funeral services will be held 11 AM Monday, November 14, 2022, at CenterPoint Church, 1225 S Center Rd, Burton, MI 48509 with Pastor Kyle Bailey officiating. Interment will follow at St. Paul Cemetery in Owosso. Visitation will be held from 2-4 & 6-8 PM Sunday at Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Rd., Swartz Creek, MI 48473. Visitation will also be held from 10 AM - 11 AM Monday at the church. Flowers or notes of condolences can be sent to Sharp Funeral home or a donation to the charity of your choice in her name. Mary Ellen was born March 26, 1946, in Owosso, MI, the daughter of Joseph Charles and Edith Hellena (Buckley) Slemin. She attended Immaculata Academy High School in Hamburg, NY whereas a novitiate she studied to be a nun. Upon graduating she discerned out of the religious order and attended Niagara University for Education. She earned her bachelor's degree and master's degree from Eastern Michigan University.  She was married to Carl Pelikan on June 15, 1973, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church by Fr. Sylvester Fedewa. Mary Ellen was a teacher at Holy Redeemer School and her 7th grade class played guitar and sang at their wedding. Mary Ellen was a Special Education teacher in Flint Public Schools for 23 years. She was very active in CenterPoint Church serving on the Board of Trustees. She had been a Girl Scout Leader, Chaplain for cancer patients and taught Bible studies. Mary Ellen was a great adventurer.  Before she married Carl, Mary Ellen traveled around Europe for several months. Once they were married, she and Carl spent lots of time at their cabin in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and their condo in North Carolina.  They traveled with Mary’s siblings to Ireland to see the Buckley family land. They went on a sailing trip in the British Virgin Islands with Kathleen and RoseAnne. They traveled overseas to the Northern Mariana Islands and also to Hawaii to visit their daughter Kathleen who was working to protect and restore coral reefs. They took a cruise and train trip to Alaska and visited Colorado often where Rose Anne and Justin live with their dog Gator. They also visited Seattle regularly to spend time with Kathleen & Scott and their grandchildren. Surviving are husband, Carl of Flint; two daughters, Kathleen (Scott) Pozarycki of Seattle, WA and Rose Anne Pelikan and husband, Justin Bowen of Evergreen, CO; two grandchildren, Lena Anne and Alek Scott Tollin Pozarycki; two sisters, Rose Marie Meyer and Carol Belford; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, Joseph and John Slemin. Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.