Mary Vander Linde left her life on earth to be joined with other saints in the presence of her Lord and Savior. Mary had a deep Christian faith and was a remarkably kind, generous, and gracious person. She was a gifted performing musician and piano instructor, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and devoted friend. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.
Mary was born in Petoskey, MI, graduated from Petoskey High School and earned a degree in Music Education and Piano Performance from Michigan State University in 1951. She began her teaching career in Mason Public Schools. She met Henry P. Vander Linde in graduate school and they married and moved to Holland, MI in 1954 where they raised their family while she continued her career in music by instructing piano students. Over a span of more than 60 years, she taught piano to hundreds of students and became a leader in local, state, and national organizations promoting the certification of piano teachers in order to enhance the quality of piano instruction. Mary’s professional life also included performance engagements as a collaborative pianist with the church, local performing ensembles, and hundreds of high school students for solo and ensemble competitions.
At Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Mary was a faithful congregant, choir member, pianist, participant in, and leader of multiple ministries, Bible studies, and committees.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry in 2008 and is survived by her children:
Kristin K. and Lawrence McKay of Cheboygan, MI, Martha J. and Dr. Thomas Hart of St. Louis, MO, Dr. Scott H. and Dr. Marie (Westra) Vander Linde of Grand Rapids; 6 grandchildren Katie Miller (Seth), Larry McKay (Meghan), Meredith McKay (Financé Brandon Krebs), Christopher Hart (Eva), Annica VanderLinde Quakenbush (Peter) and Kristin Vander Linde; 6 great-grandchildren (with one more on the way); sisters-in-law Patricia (Vander Linde) Ryan, Melvina Vander Linde Pranger; and many nephews and nieces.
Her family is grateful for the care provided at American House of Wyoming and Kindred Hospice in past years, and for Faith Hospice during her last days.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church, 259 Central Ave. Holland with Rev. Chad Steenwyk officiating. (live-stream at https://www.youtube.com/c/CentralAvenueChristianReformedChurch/featured). Burial will take place prior to the service in Pilgrim Home Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Monday, March 28, 2022, at Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Home, 315 E. 16th St. Holland. Memorial contributions may be given (in memory of Mary E. Vander Linde) to https://donate.bluelake.org/camp and https://kindredhospice.com/locations/kindred-hospice-grand-rapids/. To leave condolence and more information, please visit www.langelandsterenberg.com.
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