OBITUARY

Michael Frances Parsons Michael Frances Parsons died on Saturday, June 16, at the William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. He was 67 years old and a resident of Bloomfield Hills. Parsons was born on April 8, 1945, in Galway, Ireland. His parents were E. Joseph and Ann Regina (nee Raftery) Parsons. He came to the United States at the age of 4 and five years later became a U.S. citizen. Parsons was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving during the Vietnam conflict. He graduated from the University of Detroit, majoring in English. Later, he graduated from the University of Detroit School of Law. A longtime probate attorney in private practice in the Detroit area, he was also a licensed real estate broker. As an avid reader, he was interested in a wide range of subjects. Because of his great love for the Catholic faith, he became a passionate student of church history, becoming very knowledgeable about the early church fathers. Later, his research focused on the English martyrs. Visiting the site of their martyrdom in London was enormously significant to him. While not traveling to various European cities, he was an active and devoted parishioner at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Detroit. Mount Angel Abbey in St. Benedict, Ore., also held a special place in his heart as did the Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist in Ann Arbor. Parsons was the son of the late E. Joseph and Ann R.; brother of Mary B., Ann R. Hewson, Richard J. (Judith), and the late John J.; and uncle of Christina, Joanna, Joseph and Thomas. Funeral mass was held Tuesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1828 Jay St., Detroit, 48207. Memorial tributes to the church are appreciated. Published: Thu, Jun 21, 2012