Mary A. Laverman

Mary Ann Laverman went to her heavenly home on November 24, 2025. Mary was born on May 29, 1942, in Oskaloosa, IA to Morris and Dorothy (Langeland) Folkert. Before starting school, her family moved to Holland, MI and then eventually to Grand Rapids, MI where her father was the pastor of the Seventh Reformed Church. There she attended West Side Christian School. In 1957, they moved to Lansing, IL where Mary graduated from Illiana Christian High School in 1960. She went on to Hope College in Holland, MI where she met the love of her life, Bruce Laverman of Chicago, IL. They were married in June of 1964 after Mary graduated with a major in Latin and moved to Schoolcraft, MI where Bruce interned at a church for the summer. In the fall, Mary took a teaching position at the High School in Spring Lake, MI. She walked a mile to and from work every day because Bruce had to drive their only car to Holland, MI where he was in his final year of schooling at Western Theological Seminary. After Bruce graduated, they moved to Sheboygan, WI where Bruce was the pastor of Bethany Reformed Church and Mary taught high school. She saved her entire first year's salary of $600 to purchase a Baldwin piano. Mary gave birth to her son, Mark in 1966 and daughter, Susan in 1968. In 1969, the family moved to Palos Heights, IL where Mary had two more daughters, Julie Ann (1971) and Tamara Blythe (1975). Mary was an amazing mother and homemaker doing all the cooking and cleaning as well as making most of the clothes for her four kids using the Stretch & Sew patterns which were popular at the time. She was also a substitute teacher in the suburban Chicago area. An avid lifelong reader, Mary also enjoyed singing in the church choir and playing piano. In 1980 the family moved to Omaha, NE where Mary continued to raise her family and substitute teach, eventually taking a teaching position at South High School. In 1985, the family moved to Glendale, AZ. Soon after, Mary began teaching Latin at Brophy College Preparatory School in Phoenix where she taught for 25 years and was the first female awarded teacher of the year. More than just a teacher, Mary cared deeply about her students. Her students will always remember her "Chicken Soup for the Soul" readings each Monday morning as well as singing songs in Latin for them. She started Wounded Healers, a grief support group for students suffering a loss of a family member. Having lost her mother to cancer at age 22, she understood their grief and her kindness and empathy helped many students through some of their darkest times. Mary was also a volunteer for countless Kairos retreats to Brophy's Manresa retreat center in Oak Creek Canyon. After her family, especially her grandchildren who she loved so incredibly deeply, teaching at Brophy was the most rewarding and fulfilling thing in her life. In an article in the school newspaper about her retirement in 2010, Mary was quoted as saying, "I always get emotionally attached to them (students) and they have brought my life such meaning and purpose."
Mary is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, who was by her side as she took her last breath, Bruce; her children, Mark (Michelle) Laverman, Susan (Travis) Stewart, Julie Ann (Jeff) Giedt, and Blythe (David) Heffelfinger; her beloved 11 grandchildren, John, Laura Joy (Grant), Ben, Spencer, Addie, Melanie, Luke, Sianna, Carter, Karli and Averi; great grandson, Noah and siblings, Ellen (Brad) Klow, Jean (Austin) Spyksma, Nancy Hoeksema, and Tom Folkert. She was preceded in death by grandson, Conner Stewart (1996).
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 11:30am with visitation starting at 10:30am at Hansen Mortuary Chapel, 8314 N 7th St, Phoenix, AZ 85020. Following the memorial service, a burial service will take place at 1pm at Dignity Memorial Park, 200 W. Beardsley Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85027. The family will host a luncheon at Inspira Arrowhead at 20240 N 78th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85308 following the burial at 2pm.