Mary Schwerdt Macolly

Mary G. Schwerdt Macolly, age 84, of Zeeland, passed away peacefully Wednesday, January 10, 2024 surrounded by family.

Mary was born on Christmas Eve 1939 in Columbus, OH. She was adopted by loving parents, James Ralph and Mary Ellen (Murray) Janney in North Baltimore, OH and was the best Christmas present ever. Her family moved to Bowling Green, OH in 1952 and she graduated from Bowling Green High School in 1957. Mary attended MSU for one year then transferred to St. Vincent’s School of Nursing in Toledo, OH. Mary graduated in 1961 as a Registered Nurse(RN).

During her year at MSU she met and fell in love with John Dale Schwerdt and they were married on August 12, 1961. They lived in St. Joseph, Michigan where Mary worked at Memorial Hospital (now Lakeland) in the OB ward. They moved to Saugatuck, Michigan where she worked at Douglas Hospital, Harbor Health Facility in Douglas, and Resthaven in Holland over the many years of being a nurse. She was known for her big smile and the kindness she shared. She and Dale had 6 children. Four girls and two boys. There was never a dull moment. They retired to Florida in 2000 and enjoyed traveling, camping, exploring, and just having fun together until Dale passed away in 2003.

In 2006, Mary married Ken Macolly in Florida. Mary and Ken moved to Virginia, back to Florida, to Shelby, MI and finally back to Holland, MI in 2016.

Mary enjoyed her involvement with the Red Hat Ladies Society, Coffee with Waverly Shores, and activities at Evergreen Commons. She collected lighthouses and her great grandfather was the first keeper of the White River Lighthouse in Whitehall, Michigan. Mary loved to travel to Florida, Virginia, Canada, and Michigan. She was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Douglas, MI.

Mary was preceded in death by her husbands, Dale Schwerdt and Ken Macolly; parents, James Ralph and Mary Janney; in-laws, J. Bernard and Doris Schwerdt; son-in-law, John Boersema Jr.; daughter-in-law, Brenda Schwerdt; brother, William Janney; and brother-in-law, Craig Schwerdt.

Surviving are her children, Anne (Dave) DeZwaan, Karen (Mark) Woller, Maria Boersema, Laura (Dennis) Page, Ray (Neasjah) Schwerdt, and Ken (Jaci) Schwerdt; grandchildren, Trevor DeZwaan, Caitlin DeZwaan, Amanda (Otavio) Oliveira, Zachary Boersema, Sarah (Josh) Horton, Savannah Page, Sierra Page, Audrey Schwerdt, Ellie Schwerdt, Helen Schwerdt, Mattie Schwerdt, and Gretchen Schwerdt; great grandchildren, Zahara Oliveira, Benicio Oliveira, Dominic Horton, and Marcus Horton; sister, Susan (Doug) Ballard; nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Funeral services will be 11 am Monday (January 15) at Gibson Church, 6486 140th Avenue. Burial will be in Douglas Cemetery. Visitation is 3-5 pm Sunday (January 14) at the Dykstra Funeral Home-Mulder Chapel, 188 West 32nd Street. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.