Mary Beth Rydzewski

Mary Beth Rydzewski (Bellin) radiated both humility and joy. She was most known for her compassionate spirit and selfless love for everyone she encountered. She had a way of making others feel loved and special. Our mom would say to us from little on, "Do you have any idea how much I love you?" Her smile and sense of humor made her contagious. She took the time to ask people about themselves in a way that is rare these days. And she had a way of putting people at ease because they knew they could be themselves around her.

Our mom loved to get up early in the morning, have coffee and read her Bible. She guarded this time; it was sacred to her so she could be alone with the Lord. She loved spending time with her family and adored her five granddaughters (Autumn, Noel, Madeline, Molly, and Mary). She was a dear friend to so many, with several friends who go all the way back to her elementary school days at Christ King. She was so fun to be around and was always up for any adventure. She made many memories at our lake home on Little Sturgeon Bay but also loved to travel. She felt closest to the Lord in nature and loved any chance she could get to hike or explore. Our mom was a listener and an encourager. She was known for having deep conversations about things that really mattered but was also known for not taking herself too seriously. Throughout her life, she was an avid reader and would highlight and jot down excerpts from books she read about God; one quote in particular read, "What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God."

She impacted so many lives just by being her sweet and loving self.

Our mom was so brave when faced with a rare neurological diagnosis back in 2017, trusting God no matter the circumstances. And although the incurable disease continued to progress, she kept her eyes fixed on Jesus every step of the way. While in her home and surrounded by her husband, children, their spouses and grandkids who love her so dearly, the Lord ultimately called her Home early in the morning (her favorite time of the day) on Monday, July 17th.

None of us were ready to let her go. That being said, our entire lives, our mom spoke about the joy she would feel when she would get to be in heaven, face-to-face with Jesus.

Our mom grew up in Milwaukee, graduating from Divine Savior Holy Angels HS in 1972. She went on to attend Marquette University for nursing school and ended up meeting our dad (John) during that time. They were married on May 31st, 1975 and have been best friends ever since. Our parents had a deep love and respect for one another. As their kids, we had the privilege of witnessing their marriage of 48 years. Our parents both put one another's needs before their own. They spent a lot of time laughing together and genuinely enjoyed being with one another more than anyone else. One of the things my dad said all the time about our mom was, "I love that woman." And he also told us over and over again that our mom made him the man who he is today.

Our mom began her nursing career as a public health nurse in Wauwatosa before moving on to work in oncology, day surgery, eye surgery, and as a nurse educator. Our mom put her career on hold to raise us (John, Rachel, and Nora) and then again years later when she and our dad moved her parents into our family home. Our mom (and dad) cared selflessly for both of her parents for many years as they battled Alzheimers' disease.

Our mom was very involved at Elmbrook Church over the years, from teaching Sunday school to leading Bible studies to going on mission trips overseas. She also loved serving in the community, from local food banks to a pregnancy crisis center to volunteering at a shelter for abused women. Our mom often invited strangers over for holidays, delivered meals to those who were homebound, and welcomed anyone to stay with us in order to help them get back on their feet. She had such a natural way of coming alongside people in a way that preserved their dignity.

While she was known for her compassionate heart and for making others around her feel special, what stands out the most about our mom is her faith. She loved the Lord above all else. Her favorite Bible verse was Proverbs 3:5-6 which reads, "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths."

The memorial service for Mary will be held at Elmbrook Church (777 S. Barker R. Brookfield, WI 53045) on Friday, August 11th with visitation with her family from 12-2pm and the service starting at 2pm. There will be a private gathering for family and friends to follow in downtown Milwaukee.

Our mom loved fresh cut flowers so we will be picking out some of her favorites for her service. In lieu of any other floral arrangements, we know our mom would love donations to any of the following organizations that she faithfully contributed to. Donations can be made in her name to: Voice of the Martyrs at https://www.persecution.com/, World Vision at https://www.worldvision.org/donate or Telling the Truth at https://www.tellingthetruth.org/.