March 6, 1936 — May 12, 2019

Mary Lou Burling, 83, of Dowagiac, passed away Sunday, May 12, 2019, at Sanctuary at Holy Cross Nursing Home, in South Bend.

A celebration of life service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at Clark Chapel, 405 Center Street, Dowagiac with Pastor Boyd Saylor officiating.

Friends may visit with the family at noon until the time of service on Wednesday. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Mary Lou’s name may be made to Cass County Cancer Service. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at clarkch.com.

Mary Lou was born March 6, 1936, to A.C. and Wilma (Lloyd) Phillips in Eau Claire.

On Dec. 30, 1971, she married Ben Burling. She worked for Heddon’s and Sunstrand for many years, after that, she was self-employed as a professional knitter. Mary Lou loved sewing, quilting, and crafting. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading and coloring. Most of all she loved her family and she will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Mary Lou is survived by children, Glenn (Cathy) Feirick and Brenda (John) Edington; grandchildren, Tim (Abbie) Feirick, Beth (Ryan) Kaniuga and Tom (Sarah) Edington; great-grandchildren, Preston Edington, Justin and Tyler Feirick and Lainie and Maisie Kaniuga; step-children, Chuck (Kathy) Burling, Tom Burling, Bob (Debbie) Burling, Linda (Rodger) Sims and Diane (Pat) Harding; 14 step-grandchildren and 21 step-great-grandchildren; sister, Joyce (Mike) Hall and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ben Burling, brothers Vernon Phillips and Raymond Phillips and step-daughter-in-law Dee Dee Burling.