Mary E. Schakel

Mary Elizabeth Schakel, a long time resident of Holland, MI, died December 16, 2025 at the age of 78. Mary was born April 22, 1947 in Indianapolis, IN and grew up in what she called the country or farm. She was in the class of 1965 at Warren Central High School where she excelled in Debate and was chosen to be a representative at Girl’s State. Mary came to Holland as a History/Poli-Sci major at Hope College and graduated in 1969, but stayed a 5th year after taking a theatre class and being asked to design costumes for “Spoon River Anthology”. That was the spark that opened her world to Theatre and the pursuit of Costume Design. Further study took her to graduate school at the University of Minnesota. It was her creative talent as a Costume Designer that returned her to Hope for the Inaugural season of Hope Summer Theatre in 1972 in the campus’s newly-opened DeWitt Cultural Center. Mary followed that Premiere by interspersing summers with a short time in Chicago, The Meadow Brook Theatre in Rochester, MI and New Harmony Theatre in Indiana, before she returned to work in Hope’s Theatre department to oversee its costume shop and students in construction and design.

Her creative juices were flourishing as the growing Summer Theatre became a Rotating Repertory company known as HSRT (Hope Summer Repertory Theatre) in 1974. Holland was becoming her home. She helped weave the fabric of Hope’s academic Theatre department and students into the professional summer companies of HSRT. By 1979 her “summer job” became a year-round one and she left the “winter” department. Mary was now HSRT’s first Managing Director, alongside its Founding Artistic Director, John Tammi. She influenced and mentored designers, actors, technicians, and the communities and audiences from Holland and beyond to the Art of Theatre and how All were needed for their support and success. Interns, Volunteers, Audience, everyone was part of her circle. She had become the face and voice of HSRT and left a legacy over her 40 years when she retired in 2012.

Until the last day of her life her web with past company members was never far away. There were phone calls filled with advice and laughter and memories of flea market finds, song fests, Dutch -touch awards, snarky quips, fashion forte, firing up a grill or setting a beautiful table. They were all in her wheelhouse with an ever-present jigsaw puzzle near by and the perfect vintage chapeau for stepping out in style. Mary’s family and friends became one through the decades.

At Mary’s request, there will be no service. A celebration of her life will evolve as the season of the summer of 2026 dawns. She was preceded in death by her parents; Earle and Dena VanHeyningen and sister Nancy Bryant. She is survived by her sister Carol Troost of Scotia NY, her brother; Louis Schakel and his wife; Deborah Noe Schakel of Holland and beloved nephews, nieces, grand-nephews and grand-nieces who venture all over the world. She also is survived by her dear dear girlfriends she met while a student at Hope. Their lunches and emails and zooms continued to inspire her til her last breath. She was grateful for the love and joy and debate they shared through the years. And now Mary’s magic lingers with the many members of the Theatre; her extended family, who will continue to tell her story and applaud her life.

If you wish to honor Mary Schakel with a donation in her name, kindly write any checks to Hope Repertory Theatre and send to Hope Repertory Theatre 141 E 12th St. Holland MI 49423 and include on the memo line: “Mary Schakel”. For online donations in her memory follow this link: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/47349/donations/new