Maria Beltran Lopez

Maria Lopez was a wonderful, hardworking and loving woman, a woman who always cared for others with such uncommon grace, compassion and character. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, and a friend to so many. She was also a strong, independent woman, who led us through her incredible strength, love, and example.

Maria's story began on a stifling hot August day in 1921, within the palm-lined limits of McAllen, Texas, far south in the Rio Grande Valley near the Mexican border. Those were exciting times in this country, as America was still in celebration of its momentous victory in World War I, and beginning to rev up the Roaring Twenties. Prohibition was now in effect, with the 18th Amendment ratified just a year earlier. But with the passing of the 19th Amendment, granting Women's Suffrage, there was a renewed sense of hope and prosperity surrounding the nation in 1921, as America moved from the Industrial Age to a new, Progressive Era. On August 12, 1921, Jorge and Genoveva (Ledesma) Beltran enjoyed a celebration of their own, with the birth of a baby girl, a daughter they named Maria.

Maria was one of seven children raised by her parents, who had also compassionately adopted two children in addition to the five of their own. When Maria was just a young girl, the family packed up and left McAllen, traveling far north, to the sandy shores of Holland, Michigan in search of a better life, where Maria's mother had relatives.

Maria grew, learned and loved in Holland, and would eventually grow to love even more. When she was 31, she met a wonderful man named Jesus Lopez, introduced to her by a relative in nearby Fennville. The two hit it off, and a romance quickly ensued. Two years later, in 1954, the couple was married on December 4, 1954.

Jesus had six children from a previous marriage, but his wife died in childbirth and his children were being raised by their grandmother in Texas. After three years of marriage, Maria and Jesus were blessed by the birth of their first child together, a son they named Jose, in 1957. Their happy home was about to grow even bigger, as Jesus' six children came to live with them that same year.

Maria and Jesus had three more children together, sons Mike, Roy and David, although sadly, Roy died as an infant. Maria was a wonderful, hardworking and loving wife and mother, who effortlessly managed a house full of nine children. Thankfully, Maria loved to cook, with plenty of mouths to feed, and she even would happily cook meals for others who needed them.

The family lived at 169 E. 5th Street in Holland for 12 years, while the boys were young, which was such a special place for them. One summer her boys were invited to attend the Vacation Bible School at Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church, located not far from their house. The kids enjoyed it, so the family became members of that church in the late 1960s, even though Maria grew up in the Catholic Church, and the kids attended the Christian school.

With so many kids to feed, it wasn't always easy to make ends meet, so after her first son was born, Maria went to work, taking a job at the Heinz factory in Holland, where she worked for 25 years. It wasn't easy working and raising a house full of nine children, but with the never-ending energy Maria seemed to have, she always got everything done. She kept her job and kept her home, and would even shovel the driveway in the wintertime! She certainly didn't need anyone to do it for her, being the strong-willed, independent woman she was.

That was Maria, though. She always shouldered life's burdens effortlessly, with uncommon grace and character. She would do anything she could to help others, and no one ever heard Maria complain about anything, ever. She could handle anything, with character, and especially, her trademark sense of humor.

Eventually, in 1983 Maria retired from Heinz, after 25 years, at the age of 62. She and Jesus traveled to Texas a few times, to visit the family she still had there. Then in 1992, Maria sadly suffered a stroke, which limited her capabilities. During the same time, her beloved husband was developing Alzheimer's, and she pressed on as best she could, caring for him just as always.

Sadly, Jesus died in 2002, and two years later, Maria moved into the Resthaven care facility. Maria sadly died, on Wednesday, August 9, 2006, at Resthaven.

Maria was a remarkable woman, a woman of such incredible strength, compassion and character. She was a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, who shouldered every burden with effortless grace. Her strength, and her love, lives on in all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.

Maria Lopez, age 84, of Holland, passed away on Wednesday August 9, 2006 at Resthaven Care Center.She was preceded in death by her husband Jesus Lopez in 2002 and her son, Roy Lopez. She is survived by her children, Jose Lopez of Grand Rapids, Mike and Shari Lopez of Holland, David and Julie Lopez of Holland; her stepchildren, Gloria and Greg Calanchi of Holland, Delia and Manuel Sosa of Holland, Jesus Lopez Jr. of Coopersville, Carlos and Teresa Lopez of Tampa, Fl, Rosalinda Lopez of Corpus Christi, TX, Sylvia Calanchi of Lansing; four grandchildren; several step grandchildren and great-grandchildren; her brother, Patricio and Cleotilde Beltran of Holland; her sisters-in-law, Maria Muniz of La Feria, Texas and Josefa Lopez of Immokalee, FL; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday at 11:00am at Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church, 1 Graves Place, Holland with Rev. James Scholten and Rev Chad Steenwyk officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9pm at the Dykstra Lifestory Funeral Homes, Mulder Chapel, 188 West 32nd Street. Burial will take place at Pilgrim Home Cemetery. Memorial Contributions may be given to Resthaven Patrons of Holland. Arrangements by Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, Mulder Chapel. Visit her memory page at www.lifestorynet.com to sign the guestbook, leave a memory, or upload a photo of Maria.