Edward Francis Rivard

TECUMSEH — Edward Francis Rivard, age 98, of Tecumseh, formerly of Warren, Mich., died early Wednesday morning, July 8, 2026, at Cambrian Assisted Living in Tecumseh while under the care of Optimal Care Hospice. Born Oct. 29, 1927, at home in Warren, he was the son of the late Cecil John and Ramona (Peña).

All but six years of Ed’s life were spent in Warren. It was there where he graduated from Lincoln High School with the Class of 1946. He then pursued a degree in finance from Walsh College.

On Sept.16, 1950, he married the love of his life, the former Joyce Joan Grates, at St. Martin’s Catholic Church in Detroit. Together, they raised a family of six children in the Catholic faith and celebrated nearly 72 years of cherishing and honoring the Holy Sacrament of Matrimony. Ed and his family belonged to St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Warren for 67 years.

Shortly after marriage, Ed selflessly and proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army, serving stateside in Kentucky during the Korean Conflict. Returning to civilian life, Ed began working in production at the Chrysler Corp. It wasn’t long before he was promoted to the finance department, and he served 37 years as a financial analyst for the company. His career fostered his lifelong love of cars, importance of financial literacy and sharing his love of proper investing for your tomorrow.

Ed was a great family man and a wonderful provider for his family, and he always made sure his children had everything they needed — and more. He believed teaching faith begins at home with dignity and respect. His family brought him the most joy, and Sunday dinners were a sacred and anticipated weekly gathering. If you were a friend or neighbor, Ed considered you family as well. Seeing the innate good in everyone, Ed was known to root for the underdog, and no cause was too little for him to prayerfully or monetarily support. For many years he faithfully gave to Boys Town and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital among many more.

Ed had a love of traveling, and was proud of three notable foreign trips that he enjoyed with family. He attended the historic 1967 World’s Expo in Montreal, traveled with the Sisters of Charity to meet St. Pope John Paul II in Rome, and later visited Ireland with the Chrysler travel club. He also had an appreciation and skill for gardening, read the Wall Street Journal daily, was an avid follower of the stock market, and was the world’s greatest Tigers baseball fan.

The last four years of his life, he was known as Ed “The Card Man” Rivard with his community of family at Cambrian in Tecumseh. He thoughtfully sent a card with mints to every resident on their birthday. Ed enjoyed many social activities with his contemporaries there, such as playing cards, weekly happy hours, listening to musical performances, along with the most important — simple, weekly rosaries.

Surviving are five children, Sister Mary Immaculata, Kerry Anne (Roy) Allor, Veronica L. Echavarria, Theresa L. Balinski and Mary Rose Hancock; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and friends thought of as family along the way.

In addition to his parents and wife, Ed was preceded in his death by a son, E. Michael Rivard; sons-in-law, Allen Balinski and Richard Echavarria; his sister, Milagro (Ray) Penzien; four brothers, Jack, Gilbert (Marilyn), William (Elenore) and Richard (Marty) Rivard; and siblings-in-law, Winifred (Jerry) Kieninger and Beverly (Robert) Murri.

The family will receive friends for visitation at the Marry Funeral Home in Tecumseh on Thursday, July 16, 2026, beginning at 3 p.m. and concluding with a recitation of the Holy Rosary at 6:30 p.m. A funeral Mass for Edward will be celebrated by the Rev. Dan Wheeler on Friday, July 17, at noon at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Tecumseh. Rite of Committal will take place privately at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Detroit.

Memorial contributions in honor of Ed are suggested to benefit St. Elizabeth Catholic Church or Boys Town. Friends can express sympathies to the family online by visiting the tribute wall at marryfh.com. The family would like to give special thanks to the staff at Cambrian Assisted Living and Optimal Care Hospice for making the last years of Ed’s life the brightest and fullest they could have been. Arrangements have been made with the guidance of the Marry Funeral Home, Tecumseh.