VANDERPYL, Mary Anne
1956 - 2017
Mary Anne Vanderpyl (Smits) passed away peacefully with her family by her side after a brief illness on January 19, 2017 at the Lethbridge Regional Hospital. She was 60 years old.
Mary Anne is survived by Henry, her beloved husband of 39 and a half years, her six children and two grandchildren: Tim (Jodie) and their boys Grayson and Calder, David, Paul (Vickie), Daniel (Danika), Rebecca and Rachel. She is also survived by her two brothers Arie (Donna) Smits and Peter Smits. She is predeceased by her parents, Jan and Johanna Smits.
Mary Anne was born in Red Deer, Alberta in 1956. She married Henry in 1977 and they were about to celebrate 40 years of a wonderful marriage on April 30th.
Mary Anne was a faithful Christian and was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Her circle of friends is too large to count, and she always found joy in making connections with people. She had a naturally hospitable heart and enjoyed opening her home for hours of conversation with friends and family. She spent many hours creating family trees and passionate about preserving family history. She was a homeschooling pioneer in Southern Alberta and was an integral part of building a social network of homeschoolers in and around Lethbridge.
Her quiet courage, strength of spirit, creativity and sense of humour will be carried forward by those who knew and loved her. Mary Anne has left us with so many memories and life lessons for her family and friends. We were all so blessed to have her in our lives.
Family and friends are invited to pay their respects at a viewing on Thursday, January 26, 2017 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2800 - Mayor Magrath Drive South, Lethbridge. A celebration of life service will be held on Friday, January 27, 2017 at 1:00 pm at VICTORY CHURCH, 1.6 KM East of Lethbridge on Hwy #3, with a reception to follow. All are welcome to attend. The burial service will be on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at 1:00 pm at Horn Hill Cemetery near Penhold, Alberta (1.5km East of Hwy 2 on Hwy 42). Reception to follow in Red Deer. All are welcome to attend.
To send a condolence, please visit
www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com