Obituary for Mary Jane Belanger
Age 95, died Monday, December 20,2021 at Evangelical Home of Saline, Saline, MI under Arbor Hospice care with her loving children at her side.
Mary Jane grew up in Detroit, MI and attended Saint Clare de Montefalco elementary school in Grosse Pointe Park, MI followed by her high school years at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI. She married the love of her life, Thomas D. Belanger, Sr in 1950. After living in the Detroit area, they eventually settled in Ann Arbor, MI in 1967 where they raised 9 children. Mary Jane last worked for the University of Michigan until her retirement in 1988. Mary Jane and Tom had many fun adventures traveling in the United States and Europe and living in Northern Michigan and Florida. They eventually relocated to Saline, MI. Mary Jane and Tom were active parishioners at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Ann Arbor, where she served as a eucharistic minister and on the Altar Society. Later, after moving to Saline she and Tom attended St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, Saline, MI. She enjoyed her volunteer work at the Breast Cancer Detection Center in Ann Arbor. She lived with Alzheimer's Disease for 12 years. She was known for her humor, fun & playful nature and kindness. Even though AD robbed her of her memory, her humor, smile and love for music remained. She was affectionally known as "MJ" by the staff at Evangelical Home of Saline. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at EHS who lovingly took care of her for the last 6 years of her life. To Arbor Hospice, we thank you for your compassion and love to her in her final days.
Mary Jane is the loving mother to nine children, Mary Sue MacGuidwin (Mark), Thomas D., Jr. (Susan), Shelley Ranta (Tom), Pete (Helen), Jane Belanger (Tim Smith), Van (Laurie), Tim (Jan), Julie White (Matt), and Jill Buerkel (Dan). Survivors also include 25 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; brother, Robert (Grace) VanAntwerp, Sr. of Clinton Township, MI and numerous loving nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Helen VanAntwerp; her husband, Thomas D. Belanger, Sr.; infant daughter, Anne; and infant sons, Robert, Christopher, and John; grandson, Nicholas; son-in-law, Mark MacGuidwin; infant great-granddaughter, Hannah Belanger; brother, Thomas VanAntwerp; sisters, Virginia Polhill and Helen Ann McMahon.
A funeral mass will be held Monday, December 27, 2021 at 10:30am with visitation beforehand at 9:30am at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, 910 Austin Dr., Saline, MI 48176. Interment will be at Washtenong Memorial Park, Ann Arbor, MI.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mary Jane's honor to Arbor Hospice, 2366 Oak Valley Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48103; Evangelical Homes of Michigan Foundation, 400 W Russell St, Saline, MI 48176 or to the Alzheimer's Association Michigan Chapter Headquarters, 25200 Telegraph Rd #100, Southfield, MI 48033.
Mary Jane grew up in Detroit, MI and attended Saint Clare de Montefalco elementary school in Grosse Pointe Park, MI followed by her high school years at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI. She married the love of her life, Thomas D. Belanger, Sr in 1950. After living in the Detroit area, they eventually settled in Ann Arbor, MI in 1967 where they raised 9 children. Mary Jane last worked for the University of Michigan until her retirement in 1988. Mary Jane and Tom had many fun adventures traveling in the United States and Europe and living in Northern Michigan and Florida. They eventually relocated to Saline, MI. Mary Jane and Tom were active parishioners at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Ann Arbor, where she served as a eucharistic minister and on the Altar Society. Later, after moving to Saline she and Tom attended St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, Saline, MI. She enjoyed her volunteer work at the Breast Cancer Detection Center in Ann Arbor. She lived with Alzheimer's Disease for 12 years. She was known for her humor, fun & playful nature and kindness. Even though AD robbed her of her memory, her humor, smile and love for music remained. She was affectionally known as "MJ" by the staff at Evangelical Home of Saline. The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at EHS who lovingly took care of her for the last 6 years of her life. To Arbor Hospice, we thank you for your compassion and love to her in her final days.
Mary Jane is the loving mother to nine children, Mary Sue MacGuidwin (Mark), Thomas D., Jr. (Susan), Shelley Ranta (Tom), Pete (Helen), Jane Belanger (Tim Smith), Van (Laurie), Tim (Jan), Julie White (Matt), and Jill Buerkel (Dan). Survivors also include 25 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; brother, Robert (Grace) VanAntwerp, Sr. of Clinton Township, MI and numerous loving nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Helen VanAntwerp; her husband, Thomas D. Belanger, Sr.; infant daughter, Anne; and infant sons, Robert, Christopher, and John; grandson, Nicholas; son-in-law, Mark MacGuidwin; infant great-granddaughter, Hannah Belanger; brother, Thomas VanAntwerp; sisters, Virginia Polhill and Helen Ann McMahon.
A funeral mass will be held Monday, December 27, 2021 at 10:30am with visitation beforehand at 9:30am at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, 910 Austin Dr., Saline, MI 48176. Interment will be at Washtenong Memorial Park, Ann Arbor, MI.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mary Jane's honor to Arbor Hospice, 2366 Oak Valley Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48103; Evangelical Homes of Michigan Foundation, 400 W Russell St, Saline, MI 48176 or to the Alzheimer's Association Michigan Chapter Headquarters, 25200 Telegraph Rd #100, Southfield, MI 48033.