Marianne Furlong Rahilly, 78, of St. Ignace, died October 29, 2005, at Mackinac Straits Hospital Long Term Care, following a lingering illness.

She was born in Sault Ste. Marie December 24, 1926, to Patrick and Margaret (nee Jordan) Furlong. She was graduated from high school in Newberry and earned a bachelor of arts degree at Sienna Heights College in Adrian and a master’s degree in substance abuse counseling from Western Michigan University. She was a member of St. Ignatius Church, a counselor for Alcoholics Anonymous, and a volunteer at the long term care facility.

She married Robert P. Rahilly June 25, 1949, at St. Gregory Catholic Church in Newberry. They lived for many years in Battle Creek before moving from Brighton to St. Ignace 13 years ago.

Mrs. Rahilly is survived by her husband, a son and his family, Patrick and Patricia Rahilly of Brighton, a daughter and her family, Mary Margaret and Charles Bender of Dryden, five grandchildren, Brendan, Caitlin, Rachel, Charles, and Ethan, four sisters and their families, Margaret and Donald DeChant of Boca Raton, Florida, Hart and Donald Plumstead of St. Ignace, Barbara and L. Wallace Bruce of Marquette, and Angela and Paul Murphy of Lewiston, Maine.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Frank Furlong of Newberry.

A mass of Christian burial will be held Wednesday, November 2, at 11 a.m. at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church with Father Jim Williams officiating. Burial will be in St. Ignatius cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the St. Ignatius Loyola Church Wednesday evening program for youth. Dodson Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.