Paul M. Banish

Paul Martin Banish, 72, formerly of Warren, MI, and recently of Birmingham, MI, and finally, Royal Oak, MI, left this earth on Monday, September 1, 2025. Loving and beloved brother of Barbara Bendert, Mary Banish (Robert DiVizio), and Kathy Allen (late Ron). Adoring and adored uncle of Claire DiVizio, Lou DiVizio (Ann), and great uncle of Sophia DiVizio. Beloved son of the late Sybil Ann Michael Banish and Anthony Banish. Paul was a dear cousin, respected lector, accomplished rosarian, and cherished friend to many, including Barbara Stein, Matt Cothron, Amy Miller, Cynthia Michelich, and Phyllis and Ray England. Paul was born on March 14, 1953 to Sybil and Anthony Banish in Detroit, MI. He was born with spina bifida, which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Though never having walked, he had a lively spirit and a happy attitude. He spent his first eight years of life with his family at his paternal grandmother’s home on Elmdale Street on the east side of Detroit. His family moved to Warren, MI in 1961, where he would reside for the majority of his life, sharing the home with his sister Kathy and late husband, Ron, after Sybil passed away. Paul was raised in the church, first St. Ignatius, then St. Dorothy’s in Warren, then St. Clement, and the past few years at Holy Name in Birmingham. He was a devout Catholic and kept a Bible next to his bed. He loved to sing hymns, and often sang them with his sister, Mary. As an adult, he became a lector at every church he belonged to. He was a favorite among parishioners, because of the feeling he put into his readings. When he was too ill or in pain to get to church, he watched mass on television. The same program (“Mass for Shut-ins”) that he was a lector for. Once a month, he would go to the television studio to record the readings for the following week. When Paul’s condition got too bad to drive, he drove his wheelchair to church-in all types of weather. When St. Dorothy’s closed, he had to go more than 3 Miles-in his chair!-to St. Clement. In Birmingham, the ride was over a mile, and at this stage in his life, he was in more and more pain, but he did not like to miss. People saw him coming, rain or snow, in his battery-powered chair. Paul was highly intelligent, and as a child, was interested in almost everything. He wanted to learn all he could about every subject that struck his fancy. How to learn about all these things? Read! From the family encyclopedia set, which he read completely-yes, every volume-he learned about people, animals, birds, countries, languages, music, plants and flowers, and much more. Every book in the home was read by him, many more than once. When he wanted to delve further into a topic, there was the library. Believe me, all the librarians knew him. He took out the Hoyle’s book of games and taught himself and his sisters many card games, and even chess. He loved to laugh, joke, and was very witty. Both grandmothers had gardens, so his early love of gardens, especially roses, developed there. One rose grown by all, including sister, Mary, was Aloha. He graduated high school from Warren Woods High School, where he was the Valedictorian. He made a great friend there, Marie Woznicki, and she attended college with him as well. Bachelor’s (Valedictorian), Teaching Certificate, and Master’s Degrees were earned at Wayne State University. Marie often drove Paul to Wayne, on days when she was there. On other days, he drove with Mary’s friend, Cathy, and on days when neither had classes, he took the bus. He never let his disability stop him. Both had some wild, fun stories to recall. After his BA, he taught Math briefly, and tutored students in Math as well. He learned to drive with hand controls and bought a lift van. After earning his MA, he worked first for Michigan Bell, then Ameritech, SBC, AT&T, and finally EDS as a computer analyst. With an income, he not only borrowed books from the library, but he began buying books. Every aspect of rose care was learned from study. He bought more books about roses and became quite an expert. He decided to join the American Rose Society, and the Detroit Rose Society. He became a beloved Rose Society member, judge, Master Rosarian, Consulting Rosarian, and an expert on old (antique) roses. He was a true lover of roses. Never having been able to work on them himself, but from his wheelchair, he could direct you to the proper care of any job or problem. Directing others on how and where to plant them, his rose garden on Palomino Street grew year by year, to eventually contain about 120 roses, many of them hard to find antique varieties, that others didn’t even know about. He entered Rose shows and met some friends for life. One friend had a boy that Paul really “took to,” and Matt became like a son to Paul. He helped Paul get ready for many rose shows, by cutting and preparing the roses Paul would choose. Matt and his mom were close to Paul to the end. Paul doted on his niece and nephew, Claire and Lou. He never missed a birthday or holiday, or chance to see and spend time with them. He was extremely generous, sometimes, to his own detriment! But he poured love on them, and they loved him back. When they were tiny, they would sit on his “table” and he would read to them. They colored Easter eggs together. He took them (and sometimes their friends) to the fireworks on the Fourth of July, the movies, and the Nutcracker Ballet every Christmas. After the passing of Paul’s mother, who was also his caregiver, Paul had to hire people to take care of his needs. He made some very special friends that way, too. Tammy, his first dear aide, was very close to his heart, until she passed away. Then Paul met Phyllis, who came religiously every Monday, even to the hospital and nursing home, to shave him, right up until the last day of his life. Through Phyllis, Paul met her son Ray, who also became dear to him, and vice-versa. Ray even moved back from Kentucky and came to live with Paul when Paul was in need. Despite many surgeries, health challenges, and hardships, he continued his positive attitude and inquisitive, fun-loving nature. He led an exemplary life. The last several years of his life were fraught with pain and suffering, and he fought bravely through every obstacle. Not until his stroke in March, did his spirit start to decline. All that fighting was tiring, and Paul was tired. It was time to rest, and Paul was the one who decided that for himself, on Monday, September 1, 2025. We rejoice in his release from pain and suffering. But Paul’s departure leaves a hole in the world, and in our lives. We will continue to feel that loss for a long time-maybe always. Yet, how nice it is to think of him whole now, running, perhaps dancing! Reunited with his mother, whom he loved dearly, and perhaps even flying with the birds. With that, here is a poem to leave you with: THE COMPANY OF THE BIRDS Ah the company of the birds I loved and cherished on earth Now, freed of flesh we fly Together, a flock of beating wings, I am as light, as feathery, As gone from gravity we soar In endless circles. --Sasha Moorsom (1931-93) The visitation will be Monday, September 8, 2025 from 3 - 8:00 pm, with Sharing of Memories 6:00 pm, at Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home, 705 W 11 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48067. Paul will lie in state on Tuesday, September 9, 2025 from 9:30 am until the time of Mass 10:00 am, at Holy Name Catholic Church, 630 Harmon, Birmingham, MI 48009. The burial will be at 1:00 pm on Tuesday at Roseland Park Cemetery in Berkley. A livestream of the Mass will be available at https://hnchurch.org/. Share your memories at www.SullivanFuneralDirectors.com.

Paul M. Banish

March 14, 1953 - September 1, 2025