Obituary of Maralin Lisa Kavanaugh

Maralin Lisa Kavanaugh, also known as “Mar” age 74, was born in Bay City, MI on June 29, 1950 to the late Andrew Issac Moore and Geraldine Edith Attwater.  Maralin entered her eternal home in heaven on August 26, 2024 with her loving family and caregivers by her side. 

Maralin had a love of people and made a decision at a young age to pursue a career as a nurse. She attended LPN school in Cadillac, MI and later furthered her dreams, attending Delta Nursing School and graduating as a RN. She dedicated herself to being the best nurse she could be and had a gift for loving people at a vulnerable time in their lives. She carried that gift with her outside of her nursing career and made an effort to always be interested and care about all those she loved, right down to the tiny details. She never made you feel like a stranger. 

Maralin was blessed enough to experience two great loves in her life and was married to G. Thomas Nolan of Bay City in 1970. They spent some of the early years of their marriage in Japan. Together in love, they had two children, Tanika and Tarra.  They divorced but remained friends and continued to support each other in life and with the children they shared. In March of 1987, she married the love of her life, Dennis James Kavanaugh. She gained two more special children. They shared a love of college football with a “house divided” as she remained a vigilant MSU fan, and Denny supported the blue and maize. They both could be found in an Irish Pub with a drink in hand cheering on their team, with friends by their side. Maralin and Dennis were everything to one another and shared a life first in Bay City living on the waters of the Saginaw Bay. They later moved to Hawaii and then landed in Florida where they created a home together and made many memories with amazing friends that became family.  Her Florida “sisters” have shared so many wonderful stories and memories, making sure to emphasize how she “saved them” in one way or another, with her love and compassion in a time of need.  It was not until Denny left this earthly life that she traveled back to Michigan to be close to her beloved children and her grandchildren. 

She was raised in a Christian family and carried her faith with her throughout her life, enjoying her Chaplin visits from hospice days before she passed away. She had a passion for the water and loved the sand between her toes, and the breeze in her hair. She had a special place in her heart for animals and shared her heart with many dogs, even if they belonged to family and friends. In her Florida days, she spent time with friends enjoying the Kentucky Derby, watching football and attending Blue Angels events. In her childhood years she spent many summers at her Lake George cabin, frolicking in the lake, and spending time on the trails with her two cherished sisters. She also was a lover of dance, more specifically ballet. She danced for many years and loved every minute making great memories and feeling accomplished in something she loved. In her healthy years, she always looked like a million bucks and took pride in her appearance, from her hair, to her makeup, to her nails, and her sense of style, making sure she had the jewelry to match the outfit.  Her children and her grandchildren were something she always felt pride for and she made a point to talk about them to anyone that would listen.  She will be remembered for her big heart, her never-ending kindness, and her unwavering spirit. 

Maralin is survived by her children, Tanika (Jamie) Severs, Tarra (Christopher) Nolan-Bloxom, Jennifer (Scott) Stanger, and Jon Dennis Kavanaugh; grandchildren, Liam and Lhaylan Severs, Nola and Robin Bloxom, Kathrynne (Parent) Meinke, and Brenden and Ayden Stanger. Also surviving are her two sisters, Andrea Bergren and Patrice Zimmerman; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends that she held near and dear to her heart.  She was preceded in death by her spouse, Dennis James Kavanaugh; and her parents, Andrew and Geraldine Moore. 

The family is planning a Celebration of Life - Memorial Service in the spring with further details to be announced at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests those planning an expression of sympathy to consider memorial contributions to Americans Home Health and Hospice - Saginaw office, or to Peace of Mind AFC in Saginaw. These special people treated her and her family as their family! They loved her so hard and so fierce!  They truly made a difference and brought her a better quality of life in the months prior to her gaining her wings. To sign online guestbook, visit www.cremationsocietymidmi.com  Arrangements made with the Cremation Society of Mid Michigan.

 

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