Mary Petersen

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom". Psalm 111:10 was one of Mary Petersen's favorite passages and she recited it often. A woman of faith, she served and loved those around her in the greatest of ways. Through her fine example, she taught her children well as she held fast to high, moral standards. Strong willed and often the one who "wore the pants" in the family, she was a lady who stood by her convictions with much love and compassion. Deeply missed, Mary will remain a special part of those she leaves behind.

Mary was born during a time of great transition in the nation. Known as the Roaring Twenties, America's once conservative nature was challenged by an influx of free spirited thinkers. Gay times dominated the American lifestyle while a growth of industry and manufacturing expanded the economy. For one family in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the times were marked by joy. John C. and Caroline (Scheidel) Heitz were of German descent and raised their children strict with high moral standards They were exceptionally blessed on December 5, 1924 when they welcomed the birth of their third child whom they lovingly named, Mary.

Mary was a lifelong member of St. Alphonsus Parish which remained her home parish throughout her life. It was also where she developed her devout faith, attended Catechism classes and made her First Holy Communion. Mary was raised on Curtis N.E. Her father worked as a local farmhand before taking a job in a furniture factory. Her mother, a homemaker, looked after their thriving family. St. Alphonsus Catholic School provided Mary with her early education. She enjoyed the usual experiences of childhood and treasured family closeness.

The onset of the Great Depression accelerated Mary's poor family struggles. During these times of hardship, Mary and her sisters sold baked goods door-to-door in the neighborhood. After spending all week with their mother preparing their goods, they set out to sell them each Saturday to bring in extra income.

Mary went on to attend Creston High School. She worked at Joppy Dairy on the corner of Plainfield and Sweet where she worked the counter and sold dairy products. Having excelled in her studies, she was a good student and was placed in an accelerated program which allowed her to graduate with the Class of 1941, a year ahead of her normal grade.

While working at Joppe Dairy, Mary often greeted a customer named Howard Petersen who was a handsome young man. His family owned and operated Petersen Plumbing and lived just a few short blocks from the dairy. He went to the dairy often, especially to visit with Mary. Even though they knew each other from school, they soon became better acquainted. She soon found work with Hayes Manufacturing Company in Grand Rapids and worked there for several years. At this time in 1942, Howard enlisted in U.S. Navy and was discharged with a medical discharge later in 1942. Although he and Mary didn't communicate much during this point in time, upon his return they began dating and their relationship became more serious.

Howard asked Mary to go on a camping trip and would only agree if they were married. On October 13, 1945 at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Mary and Howard were blessed in Holy Matrimony. The couple planned a honeymoon at the Petersen family cottage on Wolf Lake near Baldwin and on the first leg of their trip they even gave the priest who married them a ride to Newaygo.

After returning from a memorable honeymoon, Mary and Howard settled into a home at 1600 Coit NE, right next to their family business, Petersen's Plumbing. Howard supported his new bride after joining his family's business as a plumber and partner alongside his brothers. While there they started their family and three years later, Mary and Howard moved to their family home at 4 Knapp NW where they happily raised their four children. Michael was born in 1946, followed by Raymond in 1949. Rosemary came along in 1952, and Maryanne completed their family in 1954. As a devoted wife and mother, Mary remained at home with her children where she put her organizational skills to good use as a meticulous planner. Firm yet loving, she taught her children to be self-reliant and independent and to live responsibly with confidence. They attended St. Alphonsus School where she took an active role in their schooling and supported the school with her time and talents. She was a member of the Mother's Club and even published the school bulletin for a number of years.

Mary loved sewing and made many items for her children's wardrobes. When it came to furnishing her home, she loved early American designs and when possible, she preferred shopping at Carl Forslund Furniture. Many of the beautiful pieces she did buy have since become family keepsakes. With a love for travel, Mary and her family spent many summer days camping throughout Michigan and up north at the Petersen family cottage. A wonderful time in their lives, they shared fond memories of their time there together. Mary satisfied her love for travel also by going to the travel logs sponsored by the Kiwanis Club and enjoyed visiting new places through the presentations. Even though she also enjoyed square dancing, there was no place she'd rather be than surrounded by the family she loved. Family was very important to Mary. Through family, including her brothers and sisters, Mary gained much strength. She and her siblings spent a lot of time together and enjoyed get-togethers throughout the year.

In school, Mary’s favorite subject was geography which initialized her love for travel. She absolutely loved seeing and visiting exciting places. In later years, Mary and Howard enjoyed traveling to Europe on three separate occasions and other places in the U.S. They also found wine making to be a fun and enjoyable hobby. In 1995, Howard passed away leaving Mary alone. She remained working at the church until her retirement in 1997. She continued to live in their beloved family home for a few more years but eventually moved to an apartment in Heron Woods in 1999. With a natural love for children, Mary enjoyed her grandchildren immensely.

Before long, the day came when Mary realized she needed more care. Not wanting to be a burden to her children, she moved to St. Ann's Home in 2005 where she lived for the rest of her days. She liked watching Lawrence Welk and the Ice Capades on TV. and quietly listening to Blue Lake Public Radio was also something she thoroughly enjoyed.

Lovingly remembered and sorely missed by her family and friends, Mrs. Mary M. (Heitz) Petersen, at the age of 87, passed away peacefully on December 24, 2011 at St. Ann’s Home. Along with her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her siblings and in-laws: Charles and Lucille Heitz, Robert and Lavina Heitz, Gerarda and Robert Dewey; her niece, Dorothy (Heitz) Knapp. Surviving are her children: Michael (Phyllis) Petersen of Dowagiac, Raymond (Cindy) Petersen, Rosemary (Marty) Posekany of Greenville, Maryanne (Chris) Rogers; her sister, Patricia Worden of Reno, Nevada; grandchildren: Joe (Julie) Petersen Norwalk, Ohio, Jeff (Kris) Petersen, Andrew (Desiree) Petersen, Benjamin Petersen, David Rogers; great-grandchildren: Scott, Noel, and Henry Petersen; Brooklynn Petersen; many nieces and nephews. Mary's family is deeply indebted to the staff at St. Ann’s Home where she spent her final years and Great Lakes Caring Hospice.

A funeral Mass for Mary will be celebrated Friday, December 30, 2011, 10:30 AM in the chapel of St. Ann’s Home. Interment will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with her family Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, Van Strien–Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield NE. The recitation of the Rosary will be held Thursday evening at 8:30 PM at the funeral home chapel. For those who wish, memorial contributions to St. Ann’s Home or Great Lakes Caring Hospice would be appreciated. To read more of Mary’s life, share a memory or sign her online register book, please visit www.lifestorynet.com.