Mary Jane Aardema

With a journey that spanned times of plenty and want, conflict and peace, grief and so much joy, Mary Jane Aardema kept her gaze fixed on what mattered most: her faith, family, and friends. She was a constant source of strength and encouragement, no matter the circumstances, and she exemplified what it meant to follow unwaveringly after the Lord she loved so much. Mary Jane’s loved ones were undoubtedly her greatest treasure. Her warm, welcoming presence and sharp sense of humor made every room a little brighter, and her insatiable zest for life was contagious to all those near. Dearly loved, Mary Jane will be forever loved and cherished by those who knew her best.

The late 1950s were certainly among some of the most exciting years to be alive, especially here in the United States of America. Humanity rose to new heights with space exploration, and the Space Race was on, which would eventually bring man to the moon. Rock and roll took the world of entertainment by storm, breathing new life into the music scene. During this influential time, a young couple living in Grand Rapids, Michigan, were eagerly awaiting the arrival of their third baby. Charles and Lois (Van Koevering) Aardema welcomed their daughter, Mary Jane, into their arms on May 16 of 1958.

Growing up, Mary Jane enjoyed a typical childhood of her generation in many ways, filled with many wonderful memories. She was the youngest child in her family and was raised in the family home in Walker alongside her older siblings, Andrew and Karen. As a girl, Mary Jane loved running around outside with the neighborhood kids. They could often be found riding bikes or building forts, and everyone liked hanging out at Mary Jane’s house. The Aardemas enjoyed making summer trips up to Traverse City with family friends, the Rinzemas.

As a girl, Mary Jane attended local schools, beginning at West Side Christian School. Her energetic personality and sense of humor started to shine, and she was known to be quite the class clown. Throughout her formative years, Mary Jane built many solid friendships that would last a lifetime. However, her childhood was not without difficulty. The Aardema family faced a challenge when Lois was diagnosed with MS. In order to support their mother, the children took on more of the cooking and cleaning responsibilities around the home. Mary Jane would come home from school and make gravy bread with leftover gravy from their meals.

Mary Jane attended Calvin Christian High School, graduating in 1976. Around this time, she found part-time work in the laundry department at Butterworth Hospital. Mary Jane earned her associate’s degree, then went on to step into full-time employment at Butterworth. Over the next 40 years, she would build a fulfilling career for herself working for Butterworth and Corewell Health. Mary’s solid work ethic allowed her to move up to become the manager of the laundry division and eventually a sterile processing technician.

As all who knew Mary Jane can certainly agree, she possessed an adventurous spirit that took her all over the world. With good friends by her side, she went on memorable trips to Europe, Ireland, France, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, and many locations across the U.S. While on vacation, Mary Jane always preferred sitting back and relaxing with a beer. In her free time, Mary Jane enjoyed golfing, bowling, playing softball, and reading or listening to the works of Charles Stanley. She also liked watching movies from her expansive VHS collection, and she later enjoyed the Hallmark channel. Mary Jane had a sweet tooth for custard long johns, and she loved her espresso coffee and potatoes with gravy.

Mary Jane’s faith was the firm foundation of her life. She was a longtime member of West Leonard Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids. In good times and bad, Mary Jane leaned on the Lord and on her church community. She was a member of a Thursday night coffee group that met every week for many years. The ladies were such close friends and were constantly supporting, encouraging, and praying for one another. Mary Jane savored her memories of weekend getaways to Pentwater, Michigan, with the coffee group. Even though she wasn’t a beach person, she was happy to sit with an umbrella and a towel on the beach with her girlfriends, spending hours chatting and enjoying the company. The group was also able to take week-long trips to celebrate birthdays. When she wasn’t pouring into her church or her sisters in Christ, Mary Jane gave freely of her time and energy volunteering for Friendship Club.

In her later years, Mary Jane made her home in assisted living at Covenant Living. She was diagnosed with Alexander’s Disease and multiple myeloma. But even as her health declined, Mary Jane continued to find joy in her faith and friends. She was so well supported by her community, and a large network of friends helped organize and provide transportation for her care. Mary Jane considered herself blessed to be surrounded by so many loved ones.

When reflecting on the life of Mary Jane Aardema, it is easy to see both her unwavering strength and her unconditional love for all those around her. She faced every challenge that came her way with courage and grit. Mary Jane deeply cherished each moment spent with her family and friends. Her faith was steadfast, illustrated by the way she went above and beyond to serve others, and her generosity left an unforgettable impact on so many. Although she is already so greatly missed, Mary Jane leaves behind a priceless legacy of compassion and selflessness that her loved ones will carry with them for generations to come.

Mary Jane Aardema age 67, of Grand Rapids, passed away on March 24, 2026. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Lois Aardema; and brother, Andrew Aardema. Mary Jane is survived by her sister, Karen (Stuart) Mulder; nephews and niece, Charlie (Melissa) Mulder, David (Robin) Mulder, Grant (Leah) Mulder and Alyssa (Derek) Schoeneman; and great-nieces and nephews, Carson, Kaelyn, Kenzie, Oliver, Emerson, Addison, Michaela, Wilson and Rhys. The Memorial service will be held at 12 PM on Friday April 10, 2026 at West Leonard Christian Reformed Church, 1053 Leonard St NW. Visitation will be from 10 AM until the start of the service. Contributions in her memory may be made to West Side Christian School or American Cancer Society. Celebrate Mary’s Jane life by sharing a favorite memory or photo on her dedicated memory page at heritagelifestory.com