Mary Peeters

Throughout her rich and rewarding life, Mary Peeters touched the lives of so many in such a special way. She was kind and generous, the sort of person who was there to help others in ways both great and small no matter the personal sacrifice. Deeply devoted to her family, Mary was the most amazing wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother anyone could ask for. With a life that spanned nearly a century, she created a priceless collection of memories that her loved ones will forever hold near and dear to their hearts.

It was great to be an American during the decade that we commonly recall as the Roaring Twenties. Innovation was leading the way to new technology that brought us things like washing machines, refrigerators, and motion pictures in both color and sound. Cars also became more affordable for the average American as they were widely mass produced on assembly lines. It was also during this exciting time that Paul and Marianne (Dugo) Barone were excited to announce the birth of the baby girl they named Mary on November 30, 1922, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was one of eight children as she was joined in her family by her siblings, Agatha, Frank, Necessia, Laura, Samual, Grace, and Vince.

In many ways Mary was a typical young girl of her generation. They were a close knit family, and Mary’s parents had immigrated to the United States from Palermo, Sicily Italy. Every Sunday they picked up Grandma and Grandpa Barone for church, and after church all of her uncles, aunts, and cousins went to Grandpa and Grandma Barone’s for coffee and cookies. They remained a close family throughout her life. During her retirement years Mary and her siblings and cousin met for breakfast at one of the local restaurants every Wednesday and Saturday. Many nieces and nephews would also join them when they could. Mary attended schools locally and graduated from St. Augustine High School. She loved spending time with her family, and holidays were always so special. Mary loved baking and cooking, which would be skills that followed her throughout her life. When they were older, she also went gambling at casinos, took trips to Las Vegas, and did plenty of shopping with her sisters and cousins who were Mary’s best friends.

New and exciting changes were in store for Mary when she met the man who would forever hold the key to her heart. His name was Henry “Fritz” Peeters, and it didn’t take them long to fall deeply in love. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together, Mary and Fritz were married on April 24, 1954. Together they welcomed three daughters, Jean, Mary, and Laurie, into their hearts and home. They were wonderful parents who sent their girls to Catholic school. They instilled within their girls the importance of family and serving others. Mary’s skills in the kitchen were fantastic, and among the family favorites were her spaghetti and meatballs, homemade bread, and sugar cookies for all the holidays, especially Christmas. Today, her daughters and granddaughters all carry on this tradition with her recipes. As a family there were fun-filled vacations spent renting a cottage in Newaygo every summer with all the uncles, aunts and cousins. Mary also went to Italy on one occasion with her sister, brother, sister-in-law, and cousins.

In addition to caring for her family, Mary kept busy in other ways as well, often serving others. She was a member of St. Augustine Church and the Workers of Mary. For years Mary worked on funeral lunches, and after retirement she and her husband delivered for Meals on Wheels. Mary worked in the cafeteria at Hillside Middle School, and she and loved her work there as well as the ladies she worked with. In October of 2007, Mary was deeply saddened with the death of her beloved husband. Although the days, weeks, and months that followed were difficult for her, she found comfort in being surrounded by the love of her family.

All who knew Mary Peeters would agree that she was truly beautiful on the inside and out. She was loving and generous, truly giving of herself to others, yet she could also be just a little feisty and sassy at times. Mary was the matriarch of her family, and she lived a life that remained true to what she valued above all else. Deeply loved, she will never be forgotten.

Mary A. Peeters, age 97, formerly of Kalamazoo died on Friday, October 30,2020 at the Alamo Nursing Home. Members of her family include 3 daughters: Jean Long, Mary (Bob) Traxler, Laurie Peeters, 3 granddaughters: Jessica (Marc) Martin, Anne (Thai) Farnsworth and Alexis Ware, 5 great grandchildren: Alison and Alayna Martin, Thaya, Tenzin and Lily Farnsworth, 2 brothers :Sam and Vince Barone, 2 Sisters: Laura Hoogerheide and Grace Makela and many wonderful nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Henry “Fritz” Peeters and 3 siblings: Agatha Barone , Frank Barone and Necessia Crotty. Private entombment will take place at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. A Celebration of Life service will take place next year. Please visit Mary’s personal web page at www.BetzlerLifeStory.com, where you can read her life story, archive a favorite memory or photo and sign her online guestbook. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to Alamo Nursing Home Resident Council Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries. Arrangements by Betzler Life Story Funeral Home, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, 49009.