Elizabeth (Lyons) Stong

Elizabeth (Lyons) Stong age 92, passed away November 18, 2024. Liz was raised by Kenneth and Jane (Irving) Lyons on a dairy farm in Calais ME. She was the 6th child out of 8. They lived along the St. Croix River, across from St. Stephen, NB, Canada. As a child, Liz remembers her house burning down in the night and fleeing with only her nightclothes. No one was hurt, and her Dad rebuilt the home. Her Dad used to entertain the children by juggling bowls of oatmeal!  They had a strong faith, and Liz went to a Catholic college in St. Stephen for a year. Her sister Margaret asked Liz to travel with her to Ann Arbor, MI, where she went to nursing school.  Liz worked as a secretary for the school of Social Work at U of MI. Liz noticed a young man who also attended daily Mass in the chapel. They became a wonderful faith filled couple, and married Nov. 3, 1956 while Jack Stong was in the Naval ROTC and studying Engineering. After graduation, they moved to Newport News, VA where their first child was born. As Jack was a project engineer, he also earned a master's degree in Agricultural Engineering at Michigan State University. Following Jack around the country, Liz lived in 15 different places! They loved to travel and made it to Rome twice and Medjugorje once. Liz's faith and love for Jack were an example to those around them. The Catholic Church was their second home. After 1973, when abortion was legalized, Liz worked tirelessly to help promote a pro-life ethic, from writing letters to the editor, mailings, organizing Right to Life chapters and picketing/praying at abortion clinics. She loved to read and wrote letters, sent cards to her vast network of friends and family, never forgetting a birthday. Liz memorized and recited poetry. She was cheerful and kind to everyone she encountered. Her secretarial skills and passion enabled Liz to work with Father Paul Marx in MN, the founder of Human Life International. As they grew older, Jack and Liz were happy to spend winters in Vero Beach and Ft. Pierce, FL. They remained active in the pro-life movement until their final years, and were "evangelists for life". As her health declined and their lake drained due to epic dam failures in Sanford, MI, they moved to be closer to their daughter Mary Anne and her family in Columbus, OH in 2020. They were married 65 years until Jack's death on July 8, 2022 from pancreatic cancer. Liz missed him terribly and continued to suffer with dementia, so needing 24 hour care, she lived at the Grand Nursing Home in Dublin OH for her final years. She was devoted to our Lady of Guadalupe so say a Hail Mary in her memory. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Stong and six siblings. She is survived by children; Elizabeth (Tom) Pahl, John (Pamela) Stong, Mary Anne (Ron) Stiebler, Edward (Terry) Stong, Susan (Dave) Kelley, Joseph (Renee) Stong, 26 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; sister, Mary (Lyons) Mardas; sisters-in-law, Joan (Stong) Walsh-Behm and Barbara Stong; cousins, nieces and nephews. Member of the Rosary Altar Society, Human Life International and Right to Life of MI. Friends may call 4-7 p.m., Rosary 6:45 p.m., Wednesday November 20th at the EGAN-RYAN FUNERAL HOME NORTHWEST CHAPEL 4661 Kenny Rd. Her Funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. Thursday November 21st at St. Agatha Church Northam & Andover Roads. Burial is December 7th in the family plot at St. Mary's Cemetery in Muskegon. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to Human Life International 4 Family Life Ln. Front Royal, VA 22630, hli.org

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