Mary G. Simerink (Buurma)

Rare are those of us who follow their faith in both word and deed, who do God's work with their head, their hands and their heart. Mary Simerink was such a woman, a woman whose greatest achievements were always what she did for others. She was a devoted daughter, wife, mother and grandmother, but above all, she was a woman of faith, and of love.

Mary was born January 28, 1922, on a blustery, cold Saturday in the little town of Celeryville, Ohio . She was the eldest of eight children to bless John and Anna (Trapp) Buurma. John was a Kalamazoo, Michigan native, while Anna was raised in Muskegon . The Buurmas had traveled to Celeryville to seek their fortune as muck farmers, which is the black-gold soil so prized among growers. The family owned 20 acres, but eventually merged their business with a produce company, now called Frank Buurma & Sons. Her mother helped around the farm, in addition to helping raise the children in their growing family. Following Mary were June, Frank, Richard, Bob, Dora, Jim and Ruth.

When Mary was just 11 years old, tragedy struck the Buurma home, giving her a test of strength and of faith. Her father contracted TB, and went to a sanitarium for a year to battle the condition, while her mother became bedridden after developing a blood clot from the birth of her sister. Mary, the oldest, became the primary caregiver in the household, and raised her brothers and sisters.

Mary's family life revolved around the farm, of course, but also the church, and was instilled with a strong faith from the beginning. It was the family's faith - living, working and praying - that knit her family so closely together. Their faith was the bedrock of their hope, strength and life.

Mary began her education in a little red schoolhouse in Celeryville, with her Aunt Catherine as teacher. She was an exceptionally bright child, and excelled in school. She later graduated from New Haven High School in Ohio, and her faith then led her Calvin College in Grand Rapids . After she graduated from Calvin, she went on to earn her Nursing Degree from Blodgett Hospital School of Nursing in Grand Rapids , where she found a career, as well as true love.

Mary met a handsome young man named John Simerink while she was a nurse at Blodgett, and he was a patient. John was very sick as a young man with kidney disease and was often hospitalized, but it was love at first sight for both of them. Seeing Mary always lifted John's spirits. After he recovered, they began to date, beginning a lifelong love affair.

The happy couple was married in her hometown of Celeryville, OH on August 28, 1944, at Willard Christian Reformed Church, and the newlyweds returned to Grand Rapids to start their life together.

They bought a home on 623 Deming SE, and Mary continued to work at Blodgett as a Nursing Supervisor, while John worked in real estate. Soon they were blessed with 3 daughters, with Marianne (whom they called "Skip") born on June 17, 1945, followed by Lynne, born May 9, 1946 and Sandra, born July 9, 1949. She would also be blessed with three grandchildren over the years, Christine, Scott and Ethan, and five great-grandchildren, Hannah, Addison, Katelyn, John R. and Tyler.

Mary was a wonderful mother and grandmother, and loved all her children dearly. She was an excellent cook and particularly loved to bake delicious treats for her children, especially her famous cream puffs and chocolate-chip cookies, her specialty. Of course, given her choice, she always preferred ice cream, her favorite.

The family did much together, and vacationed often at their cottage on Big White Lake . Mary had many other passions, and loved playing golf, or going to the opera, and loved Christian hymns and classical music. Her favorite hobby since childhood was always reading.

But Mary's greatest passion was always doing God's work, and the church was such an integral part of her life. She was quite involved in church activities, and belonged to several groups and bible studies at church over the years. She also served on committees at Covenant Village , volunteering in the gift shop and putting on teas for the residents.

Mary's faith was more than just a part of her, of course, it was who she was at heart. Her greatest comfort in life, and death, was that she belonged to her faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. She was a remarkable woman, an amazing wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and a woman blessed with much. But so many were even more blessed to have known her. She will be greatly missed.

Mrs. Mary G. Simerink, aged 84, of Grand Rapids, arrived safely Home on Thursday morning, February 16, 2006. She was preceded in death by her husband John, and her brother Frank. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Marianne "Skip" and Gordon Van Tuinen, of Grand Rapids, Lynne and Larry Schilling of Bethany, Connecticut, Sandra and Perry Vanden Oever of Baldwin, MI; her 4 grandchildren, Scott (Cheryl) Van Tuinen, Christine (Guy) Suchecki, Derek Schilling, Ethan Schilling; 5 great grand children, Katelyn, John R. and Tyler Van Tuinen, Hannah and Addison Suchecki; her brothers and sisters, John (Kay) Buurma Jr., Richard (Arlene) Buurma, Robert (Henrietta) Buurma, Dora (Jack) Bloem, James (Kathleen) Buurma, Ruth (Ervin) Sharpless; her sister-in-law, Jean Buurma Scadden; her special friend, Julia Villars; many other friends, nieces and nephews. Cremation has taken place.

A service to celebrate Mary's Life and to visit with her family, will be held on Tuesday morning, February 21, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at Shawnee Park Christian Reformed Church, 2225 Tecumseh Dr. SE , with Rev. David Ness and Rev. Ben Van Arragon officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery . In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions in her memory to West Side Christian School Foundation or Covenant Village of the Great Lakes Benevolent Fund. Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel - Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes.