Mary E. Borga, 82, of Iron Mountain, passed away Friday, November 13, 2009, at Hyland Nursing Home, Iron Mountain. She was born December 4, 1926, in Tri Mountain, Mich., daughter of the late Gaspard and Eda (Hart) Michaud. Mary graduated from Painsdale High School, Painsdale, Mich. and went on to attend St. Scholastica College, Duluth, Minn. She later received her Master's Degree in Education from Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Mich. Mary taught Home Economics and English for 25 ½ years at Iron Mountain High School. She was also a stern ruler of study hall. Mary married Victor Borga on June 17, 1950, at Sacred Heart Church, Painsdale. He preceded her in death on August 28, 1996. They resided in Garden, Mich., for a length of time before moving to Alpha, Mich., and finally to Iron Mountain in 1965. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Iron Mountain. Mary took pride in being Msgr. James Kaczmarek's private cook for many years. She assisted her husband, Victor, with the AARP Senior Driving Program, volunteered at St. Vincent DePaul, and also drove patients to their appointments for the Dickinson County Cancer Unit. Mary was named First Lady of Dickinson County in 1997. Mary was a Dickinson and Iron County fair judge for many years, judging baked goods and canned goods. She spent hours quilting at the First Lutheran Church with the Holy Comforters. Mary and Victor collected clothing, bedding, and food from area residents and delivered everything to those in need in the Appalachian Mountains. She also spent many hours making and selling pies to earn money for St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Garden, Mich., and she was very protective of these pies and wouldn't share any with her family. Mary enjoyed cooking and often cooked for the priest retreats held at Marygrove. Whenever you would visit Mary at her home, you could find her either in her kitchen cooking or baking or sitting in her chair crocheting rag rugs. Mary is survived by one son, William (Sally) Borga, Norway; six daughters, Rosalie (Bob) Mayfield, Chelsea, Mich., Celeste (Steve) Hilgart, Marshfield, Wis., Bernadette (Carl) Nelson, Urbana, Ill., Cyndi (Steve) Bens, Ann Arbor, Mich., Marcie (Jim) Arnett, LaFayette, Ind., Angela (David) Gendron, Iron Mountain; one sister, Rita (Paul) Arsenault, Niles, Mich.; seventeen grandchildren, Shawn Mayfield, Elida (Ryan) Kane, Dan (Emily) Nelson, Ben (Nicole) Nelson, Jon Nelson, Ian Nelson, Stephanie Bens, Cody Bens, Kimberly (Matt) Mollick, Katie Borga, Neil Borga, Amanda Hoyum, Stacie Hoyum, Cassandra Arnett, Mariah Gendron, Chase Gendron, Gabriel Gendron; three sisters-in-law, Ruth Weber, Iron Mountain, Betty McDonald, Maryland, Maxine Hardin, Lakeland, Fla.; life-long friend, Gen Dario, Iron Mountain; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Mary's grandsons will serve as pallbearers. You may light a candle in remembrance of Mary or leave a condolence for her family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com The Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron Mountain, is serving the family. Visitation will be Monday, November 16, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron Mountain. Prayers will be offered 10:30 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. The Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Monday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Msgr. James Kaczmarek will officiate. Burial will be in Channing Cemetery. Memorials may be made in Mary's memory to the St. Vincent DePaul Society of Iron Mountain.