Maria Weidenfeller

Maria Weidenfeller, nee Crites, age 57, of Grand Rapids, born on March 9, 1949 passed away on Saturday September 23, 2006 at 2:10 p.m. CST. She fought a tremendous and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer to the very end. She was predeceased by her parents Charles and Maria Elena Crites, brothers John and Charles, uncle Joe Feller, and brother in law Larry Nederveld. She is survived and will be lovingly remembered by Ronald J., her loving husband of 35 years; her beloved sons, Craig, James (Becky); beloved sister, Anna Marie (Tim) Zielinski; beloved aunt of Jessica, Rachael, Lauren; great aunt of Austin; mother-in-law, Margaret Piebenga; sisters-in-law, Sandee Nederveld, Lynn (Johnny); special aunt, Dorothy (Jerry) Johnson; aunt, Jeanette (Mike) Reed and many other nieces and nephews. Her very special and faithful friends and guardians German Shepherds, Rory and Sofie, never left her side during her valiant struggle. Maria accomplished more then most during her brief time with us. She graduated a semester early from Aquinas College in May, 1971 with a degree in Biology. Maria also went on to earn a Masters Degree in Management from Aquinas College. After graduation Maria enrolled in the medical technology program at Blodgett Hospital and became a registered Medical Technologist. After working at Blodgett Hospital she became the supervisor at Central Medical Laboratory for Saint Mary's Hospital. Maria then worked at Amway Corporation for over 20 years and was a Quality Assurance Supervisor when she took early retirement in 2001. Bored with retirement she found her dream job at Grand Valley State University as a supervisor of the Microbiology laboratories. This gave her the opportunity to teach Microbiology lab classes to beginning students. Of her many and varied talents teaching was one of her very best. Outside of work Maria acquired a pilots license, became a Master Gardener at the Fredrik Meijer Gardens, was an Arthur Murray Dance Instructor while attending Aquinas College, was a Master Scuba Diving Instructor, a scuba diving instructor trainer, an underwater photographer, received various other scuba diving and instructor certifications and was co-author of an ice diving manual. Maria absolutely loved to read and make shell jewelry from the seashells that she brought back from her dive trips. Maria was a friend to all who had the opportunity to meet her. She will be gone from us but never forgotten. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at St. Jude's Catholic Church on Tuesday, October 3, at 11 a.m. Her family will greet relatives and friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday evening, 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday with the Rosary Service Monday evening at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Paws With A Cause, Kent County Animal Shelter, American Cancer Society, Aquinas College Science Initiative. Maria will repose at Reyers North Valley Chapel, 2815 Fuller Avenue NE. www.mem.com. Reyers North Valley Chapel