Mary Lou De Zwarte was born Apr. 6, 1938, to Gerrit L. and Jennie Grace (De Bruin) Vis at her parents’ home in Sully. She was the youngest of three children. Mary passed peacefully on Mar. 11, 2022, at Pella Comfort House surrounded by her family. Private interment was at 1 p.m. on Monday, Mar. 14, at Oakwood Cemetery in Pella prior to the memorial service at 2 p.m. at Covenant Reformed Church in Pella.
When Mary was four years old, her family moved to Pella where her father opened a barber shop. Mary attended Webster Elementary School and graduated from Pella Community High School. Mar. 11, 1955, she was united in marriage to Marvin De Zwarte at her parents’ home. To this union they were blessed with three children: Michael Eugene, Gayle Lynn, and Sandra Kay.
Mary was a home health aide for many years. She worked for Marion County Home Health Care and retired in 1999. She was a member of Covenant Reformed Church where she was faithful in attendance. She enjoyed doing CBI Bible Lesson Review for Prisoners for over 15 years.
Mary enjoyed spending time with her family. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Mary was known for showing her affection with warm embraces. She enjoyed cooking delicious meals for her family and friends in need. Mary touched many lives as she provided loving care for others.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her parents-in-law Abe and Jacoba De Zwarte; her sister and brother-in-law Norma and Donald Toom; her brother-in-law Gerald Van Sant; her son Mike De Zwarte; and her granddaughter Emily Schippers.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband Marvin and their family: Mike (1955-2018) (Melissa) De Zwarte and her fiancé Ron Rupprecht, Gayle (Roger) Wyma, Sandy (Mike) Schippers, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mary is also survived by her brother Carroll (Rita) Vis of Eldridge; her siblings-in-law: Marilyn Van Sant of Tracy, Connie (Jerry) Rowe of Pella, and Linda (Pat) Brown of Knoxville; and many nieces and nephews.
