Mary J. Van Sweden

Mary Jean Van Sweden, age 90, passed away from natural causes on Sunday, October 26, 2025, in New Baltimore, Michigan. Mary was born on March 27, 1935, to John Francis Meerman and Jeanette Marie Meerman at the family home in Coopersville, Michigan. She graduated valedictorian of her class at Coopersville High School in 1953. She met her husband, Harry Van Sweden, her best friend Thelma’s brother, in high school in 1951, and they were married at Coopersville Reformed Church on December 29, 1953. They had two children together, Debra Lee Van Sweden (now Schmidt), and Bryan Dale Van Sweden. After high school, while Harry was serving in the Air Force, Mary was a typist for the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) at Andrews Air Force Base, typing transfer orders for soldiers around the world. After Harry completed his military service, they moved to Lansing, Michigan, where Mary served as a nursery school pianist and aide. She would go on to play piano and later organ and serve as a Sunday school teacher at Church of the Master/Faith Harvest Church in Warren, Michigan, and as a volunteer for the Reformed Church Women’s Ministries (RCWM) for approximately 30 years. Throughout her life, Mary enjoyed music, travel – having visited 49 of the 50 states – spending time at her family cottages in Baldwin and Munising, Michigan, reading, crossword puzzles, and devoting her time and energy to God and her family, especially her granddaughters, Lisa Schmidt and Laura Schmidt (now Cominotto). Mary was predeceased by her parents, her husband, a sister Nelvie Anderson, sisters-in-law Catherine Key and Thelma VandeKieft, and granddaughter Lily Keim Van Sweden. She is survived by her siblings, Celia Meerman, Wayne Meerman, and Joy Hulst Robotham; her children and their spouses, Debra and Kenneth Schmidt and Bryan and Joanne Keim Van Sweden.; her grandchildren and their husbands, Lisa Schmidt and Kep Amun, and Laura and Eric Cominotto; and her great-granddaughter, Aria Cominotto, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by all who loved her. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Mt Clemens, 168 Cass Ave, Mt Clemens, MI 48043, on Saturday, Nov. 29th at 11:00. A luncheon and visiting time will follow at the church.

Mary J. Van Sweden

March 27, 1935 - October 26, 2025