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Mary Van Buren Obituary
Van Buren
Mary Jane Van Buren died April 6, 2011 at her home in Salt Lake City, Utah. She lived a life full of adventure and learning and died peacefully at the age of 84 with her family nearby.
Mary Jane was born on November 15, 1926 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and adopted at the age of 2 by William and Josephine Rankin. She earned a Bachelor of Arts from Central State Teachers College in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and a Master of Arts in English from the University of Wisconsin. She met her first and second husbands Arthur Crowns, Jr. and John Smithback in Wisconsin.
Mary Jane lived in California, where she met her third husband Hildebert Van Buren IV. She also lived in Maebashi, Japan for three years and in Hawaii for 25 years.
After retiring from the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, Mary Jane moved to Olympia, Washington to be nearer to her daughters, grand-daughters and friends. Among other activities, she volunteered at SafePlace, a domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy organization and shelter.
Mary Jane is survived by her daughter Jessica Van Buren; daughter Cassandra Van Buren and her husband Keith Cormier; and her grand-daughters Emma and Austen Van Burns, all of Salt Lake City. She was preceded in death by her dear friend Bob Hemphill.
No service will be held. Please consider a donation to the Salt Lake Community College Community Writing Center, The Road Home, Habitat for Humanity, or Best Friends Animal Society.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Mary Van Buren
4 Entries
Joanne Telerico aka Punu
May 2, 2011
Despite the many long years between our visits, you, Mary Jane, have always been present in my life, through Jessica and Cassandra and now Emma and Austen. I will always remember your joie de vivre, your infectious husky laugh and the marvel of your endless undertakings. You lived life well; now enjoy your hard-earned peacefulness.
Linda Romick
May 1, 2011
I'm sorry for the loss of your wonderful mother. I felt I knew Mary Jane through my sister, Marilyn. I wish I could have known her.
Marilyn Copeland
April 30, 2011
Mary Jane taught me that it's never too late to make a new friend, and that life is meant to be an adventure. I wish I had known her forty years, but I'm glad I knew her for four.
Susan Vogel
April 30, 2011
What an asset to every community she has been involved in. I had heard about your mom's amazing editing skills, but did not know about her extensive community involvement everywhere she lived. She is an inspiration to all of us. I'm so sorry for your loss of this incredible woman. I will do my part to help her red-pen tradition live on!
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