Mary Walters

Mary Walters was a woman who taught us it was never too late to change. She was an incredibly upbeat person, who believed in the power of prayer and in positive thinking to affect lives. She was a caring counselor, loving mother and a faithful friend, who taught us that “smiles are contagious.” Mary gave us so much to smile about in her time with us, just as her memory does today.

Mary’s story began on a cold winter day in 1950, as the Valentine’s holiday approached in Holland, Michigan. Those were turbulent times in this country, which again went to war overseas, beginning the Korean Conflict, amid the Cold War and Nuclear age. Yet on February 12, 1950, Jack and Mary (Stille) Van Ommen found a reason to celebrate, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl at Holland Hospital, a daughter they named Mary Julia.

Mary was the couple’s first of six children, and was later joined by her little siblings Debbie, Suzie, Sandy and Jacie. Mary was born and raised in Holland, and she and her family were very close growing up. She was especially close to her sisters, and they played together more as friends than siblings. They loved playing the “Bump on the Head,” game, laughing and giggling as they ran around.

Mary enjoyed singing in the choir as a young girl. She had a beautiful voice, and always loved music of all kinds, from all the classic Christian hymns, to Christian radio, to mainstream bands like Aerosmith.

Mary had many other interests growing up, from creative writing, to reading her suspense and detective novels, to attending her Bible study groups, too.

Eventually, Mary grew into a beautiful young woman, and set out to find her place in the world, a world that was undergoing so much turmoil. It was the late 60s and early 70s, the height of the Vietnam War, when protests rang out through our streets from coast to coast, racial tensions mounted, and social consciousness hit an all-time high in this country.

And young Mary experienced much of those turbulent times. She faced many challenges, and eventually found humility and also hope. She became a member of A.A., and wanted to help others as much as she was helped. She even became an alcohol abuse counselor, and helped so many people in her 14-year career as a counselor. For much of her career she lived in Iowa, in addition to several other states over the years.

As rewarding as her professional life certainly was, Mary’s personal life was so much more so. She had her share of loves in her lifetime, and was also blessed with four fine sons, Mike, Steve, Eric and Jimmy. Each of them claim the day they were born was the single greatest day of Mary’s life, and each of them are correct; the day each of them was born was the proudest of Mary’s life, in a lifetime full of proud days.

She was a wonderful mother, who always put her children first and foremost in her life, and shared her positive attitude with everyone around her. She taught her boys that “smiles are contagious,” and they “caught” so many from each other over the years. Mary’s favorite times were spent laughing with her family and many friends.

Eventually Mary and her family moved back to Holland, where she became the Activities Coordinator at Resthaven Care Center. She was such a positive person, and a beloved lady by every patient there. She made each of them feel important, and everyone there always said how much they enjoyed the times Mary spent with them.

Mary was an incredibly positive person, who could smile and laugh through any situation, even when the tears were coming down. She taught her children to never let fear or regret control their lives, and to trust in their faith for strength, just as she always did.

Mary was a woman with a quiet faith, and her family never really knew how much she prayed for them, until noticing excerpts in her journal the past few days. Each one of them were held close to her heart. She loved to attend Victory Point Ministries at Manna (a church gathering spot in Downtown Holland), and she was also a member of several small group and bible studies, too.

Sadly, Mary died on Friday, April 11, 2008, at Holland Hospital, at the age of 58.

Mary was a wonderful woman, who made such a difference to all who knew her. She was an upbeat person, who truly believed in the power of positive thinking and the power of prayer to change lives. She changed her own, and helped so many others, as well. Mary was a beloved mother, caring counselor and faithful friend, but more than anything, she was a gift to all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.

Mary was preceded in death by her father, Jack Van Ommen; son at birth, Terry Hilton; and her brother, Jimmy Van Ommen.

Surviving is her mother, Mary Van Ommen; children, Michael Hilton, Steve and Theone Quattlebaum, Eric Sebasta, and Jimmy Moore; Sisters, Debra and Brian Bronson, Suzanne and Jerry Prys, Sandra and Harvey De Graw, and Jacie Lewis, and Beth Byrne; 3 grandchildren; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service is planned for Tuesday, 2:00p.m., at the Mulder Chapel, Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, 188 W. 32nd St.

Visitation is scheduled for Tuesday from 1 p.m., until the time of the service.

Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or photo of Mary, or to sign the online guestbook.