Mary L. Van Dusen

Mary L. Van Dusen, 89, died Friday evening, December 31, 2010, at Greencroft Healthcare. She had been seriously ill since June. She was born December 25, 1921 in Milton, North Dakota, to the late Harry and Ida (Hawbaker) Stern. On June 19, 1971 she married Eugene L. Van Dusen in South Bend. He died March 21, 2009. Surviving are a sister, Ella Mae Weaver, North Manchester; brothers, Melvin (Helen) Stern, Hope, Mich. and Eldon Stern, Long Beach, Calif.; nieces, Lucinda (Dan) Barnum-Steggerda, Crown Point, Kathleen (Joe) Barnum Miller, Arbela, Mo., Elizabeth (Ken) Barnum Corsbie, Sound Beach, N.Y., Jean (Gary) Barnum Crosby, Midland, Mich., Peggy (Steve) Meyer, Midland, Mich., Rebekah Weaver, Amhurst Junction, Wis., Debbie Stern, Long Beach, Calif.; nephews, John (Leslie) Stern, Midland, Mich., Thomas (Rosemary) Stern, Midland, Mich., Roy Stern, Marquette, Mich., Thomas (Leslie) Weaver, Amhurst Junction, Wis., and Ghandi Forbes, Castania, Puerto Rico. She was preceded by sisters, Wilma Forbes, in 1963, and Violet Barnum, in 1977, and brother, John Stern, in 1945.          Mary was an elementary school teacher in South Bend for 37 years and retired in 1982. She had taught at Webster, Perley and Marquette schools, mostly first and second grades. She truly had a gift for teaching children with care and affection. She was a member of General Federated Woman’s Club, Goshen, Elkhart County and Indiana State Retired Teachers Association, and Goshen Historical Society. Mary was a loving wife, wonderful sister, and caring Aunt.  She was a longtime member of the Church of the Brethren and faithfully served God and her Lord Jesus Christ.  On behalf of Mary, her family would like to thank Goshen City Church of the Brethren, Greencroft Goshen Staff and community, Care at Home Hospice, her special cousin Roy Stern and his wife Phillies, and her many lovely friends for their special care and support, especially through these last months of her life.  Your kindness and faith brought light into times of darkness. Visitation will be 1-2 pm Saturday, February 5, 2011, at Evergreen Place at Greencroft, Goshen. A memorial service will follow at 2 pm. Officiating will be Pastor Steve Norton of Goshen City Church of the Brethren and Vanette Kashmer, a Chaplain at Greencroft. Burial will be at Wills Township Baptist Cemetery, Rolling Prairie, following the cremation of her body. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Goshen City Church of the Brethren or Care at Home Hospice or Greencroft Foundation.