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Mary Letitia Good Heuvelhorst of Holland, Michigan has passed away at the notable age of 93 years. Born to Holland residents John Good and Letitia Monaghan Good on the 16th of November 1916, she died at Freedom Village on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at the end of an adventurous and exemplary life.
She grew up in one of the very few Irish Catholic families in Holland, and her parents were early entrepreneurs. Mary began her career out of Rosary College as a social worker in Grand Rapids. Her years as a teacher began when she started the Cherry Lane Co-Operative Preschool in 1954. She worked in the Holland Public Schools as an Orthopedic teacher at Jefferson elementary.
Mary joined forces with Joe Northoek who was then the Superintendant of Wyoming Public Schools and with Bob Crump and Donald Waterman M.D. they created the Ken-O-Sha Center that currently serves families in Kent County.
Married for 25 years to Edward L. Heuvelhorst, she leaves behind four children; Mary Anne Vangen, Edward Heuvelhorst Jr., Eileen Heuvelhorst, Joan Heuvelhorst.
Mary was inseparable, both in body and spirit, from Lake Michigan, living near its powerful aspect from birth. The Lake, no doubt, has now received her into the greater life of Its own pulse and light.
A memorial mass will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 6, 2010 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, 171 W. 13th St. Holland with Father Fred Hoesli officiating. Burial will be in Pilgrim Home Cemetery. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday at Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Home, 315 E. 16th Holland.
Going to miss you Mary...Boy did we laugh...Wild grape vines, Redi Whip, racoons,left overs....just a little sample of some of our moments...Saugatuck has never been the same since you left.
Sent by Larry Botz on Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:31:29 -0500
Joan, I am so sorry about your mom but so glad she was your mom and so glad I got a chance to meet her, even if was for two short visits she was a force to be reckoned with. You are so lucky to have had for this amount of time, even though it probably does not seem enough. Love you and see you soon.
Sent by Peggy Herrera on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:46:59 -0500
Mary was my mother's best friend and my second mother since 1956 when we moved to Holland battered and broken after our father's untimely death. Mary immediately took us into her wonderful, wacky world of art and humor, and remained my best friend after Mom's death. My brother, sister, sons and their wives will always cherish our times with Mary, and always remember her kindness and fun times. What a wonderful force of nature! The world is less fun because of her passing. Ted, Eileen and Joan, we love you and grieve with you.
Sent by Peg Wayman Webber on Sat, 06 Feb 2010 10:13:22 -0500
Knowing Mary from my early years in Saugatuck.I always enjoy'd the visits to her lovely home and the stories off her years past when she visited the Loaf and Mug..I could not believe my eyes when i saw the announcement.I had just spoken to her on monday the 1st...Family you are in my thought's ...Take care.
Sent by Lydia Luijendijk(Riem) on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:07:45 -0500
I think an important goal is to have a life well lived. Mary's contributions to children in West Michigan is just one example of how her life was "well lived". I will also always be greatful that Mary provided me with my friend Eileen. I am thinking of you and your family.
Sent by Sandra Recker on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:13:29 -0500
I will miss Mary's good humor and optimistic outlook on everything even while it was so seasoned with a realistic grasp of human nature...she and my mom (Dody) must have been painting buddies for decades. I can identify them in highschool age photos splashing and laughing on the shores of their favorite place: the beach of Lake Michigan. yur mom was a treasure I will surely miss visiting as I bike past Freedom Village or stop in for a quick chat and to see her latest art project or enjoy the flowers to the west of her apartment. I love the adventure loving girl I glimpsed that stood with her bare toes curling in the grass and proclaimed that she had to be able to walk directly outside from her apartment...we will miss her too....
Sent by Sara Simmons on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 06:59:05 -0500
Working with Mary at Ken-O-Sha Center was a wonderful experience! She was wonderful with families as well as a great storyteller with wonderful wit. She will be missed greatly and remembered fondly. My thoughts are with her family.
Sent by Julie Urbanski on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:40:30 -0500
Our family is so widely that we cannot all be with Aunt Mary's family in these difficult times. The prayers of the Good, Sells, Prasad and Good families are with Aunt Mary, Lotus, Eileen, Joan, and Ted. Aunt Mary's spunk, energy, and love will be missed by all those whose lives she touched.
George (Joe), Kathy, Barb and John
Sent by George, Kathy, Barb and John on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:17:48 -0500
Mary was such a rare person and it was an adventure working with her. She had a zest for life, a wonderful (only slightly bawdy) wit and such artistic talent. Her legacy will live on through all of those she touched.
Sent by Linda Huppert on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:38:42 -0500
We are very sorry for your families loss. My family will keep your family in our thoughts.
Sent by Angela Zywicki on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:03:46 -0500
We are very sorry for your families loss. My family will keep your family in our thoughts.
Sent by Angela Zywicki on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:01:57 -0500
We are saddened to hear of the loss of Mary Heuvelhorst. She was a wonderful person, giving so much to so many during her long life. I will forever be grateful to her for being the "ringleader" and one of the founders of the Ken-O-Sha Center program in Kent County. Her efforts, along with others, continues to help hundreds of developmentally impaired infants and preschool aged children each year.
Mary loved the arts, a good cause, and helping others. She was most proud of her children.
Our thoughts and prayers are with her children and all who knew Mary.
She will be greatly missed, but not forgotten.
Sent by Bill Krater on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:57:12 -0500
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