Mary Lou Hulswit

Mary Lou Hulswit, 76, of St. Clair Shores, passed away Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.
Mary was born in Zeeland, Mich., to Clarence and Angeline Schrotenboer. Mary found meaningful employment that connected her to local communities wherever her husband of 55 years, Paul, was stationed. Over the years, she worked as a baker, librarian, caregiver, secretary, painter and conversational English teacher in Japan.
After leaving western Michigan, Mary, Paul and their children lived in Chicago, Cincinnati, Fairfax County, Va., and Tokyo, Japan. After more than four years in Japan, the family moved to Paul's childhood hometown in Grosse Pointe.
Mary had many interests, including baking, reading and needlework. Her spirit of adventure led her to embrace her love of traveling the world. She extended that sense of adventure when she and Paul hosted three foreign exchange students and one German volunteer for Services for Older Citizens. She was also featured as a Grosse Pointe News Pointer of Interest. Her connection to her church and community led to many great friendships through book clubs, Bible study groups, dinner invitations and other activities. Through all of it, Mary's laughter and joy in being with others was infectious.
Mary was predeceased by her parents; and sister, Debora Nyenbrink. Mary is survived by her husband, Paul; children, Gwyn and John; grandchildren, Cooper, Bailey and Madison; great-grandchild, Althea Valone; sisters, Alaine Mast, Carol Sheldon and Barbara VandeVoorde; and brothers, Peter, Richard, Robert and Mark Schrotenboer.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at Chas. Verheyden Inc., 16300 Mack, Grosse Pointe Park. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at First Christian Reformed Church, 1444 Mayland, Grosse Pointe Park. She will be interred at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery in Troy.
Arrangements were entrusted to Chas. Verheyden Inc.