Pauline Joyce McNeill

Pauline McNeill, 92, passed away on Friday, April 10, 2026. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend.

Pauline was born in Detroit and raised in Highland Park, MI. Her family moved to Grosse Pointe Park shortly after her high school graduation. Pauline attended Western College for Women in Oxford, Ohio, for one year before transferring to Michigan State University, which she felt was a better fit. She went on to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from MSU. She relished playing the MSU fight song at any opportunity, especially once her daughter became a student at the “other” rival Michigan university.

Pauline taught third grade at Princeton Elementary School in St Clair Shores for over ten years. In 1959, Pauline met Alex McNeill, who had recently emigrated from Falkirk, Scotland, to Detroit. The two were married in 1961 and lived in St Clair Shores before moving to Grosse Pointe Woods and starting a family. Over the course of nearly sixty-five years of marriage, the couple had many adventures, including notable trips to Scotland, Japan, and Hawaii, among others.

Pauline paused her teaching career to focus on raising her children. When she returned to teaching, Pauline was as a sought-after substitute teacher in both Grosse Pointe and St Clair Shores school systems for more than twenty years. When she wasn’t on the sidelines of a baseball or soccer game, or being involved at school or after school activities, she was very involved with Women’s Fellowship activities at Grosse Pointe Congregational Church, including the annual rummage sale, as well as serving on the church board. In later years, she took up the art of knitting and loved being a member of the church’s Knit Wits group. The church was the source for many of Pauline’s closest friendships. Pauline was also active for many years with the Bon Secours Assistance League.

Pauline’s pride and joy were her two grandsons. She particularly loved reading to them as young children. She cherished her role as Nana.

Pauline will be greatly missed by her devoted husband Alex, daughter Allison (Jim), son Colin, and her beloved grandsons Colin and Ian. She was predeceased by her parents and sister Esther. The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Sunrise of Grosse Pointe Woods for their amazing care the past few years.

A memorial service and inurnment in the garden columbarium will be held for all Saturday, May 30, at 11 am at Grosse Pointe Congregational Church, 240 Chalfonte, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, 48236. A gathering in the church lounge will immediately follow as an opportunity for fellowship and remembrance of Pauline’s life.

Memorial donations may be made to Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society, 20542 Harper Ave, Harper Woods MI 48225, gpaas.org/donate, to support Pauline’s great love of cats; or the Garden Columbarium Fund at Grosse Pointe Congregational Church, 240 Chalfonte, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236, gpcong.org/give.