Mary Ann Van Buren

Mary Ann Van Buren passed from this life on Friday, August 22nd, surrounded by family and her pastor Father Paul Wander.

Mary was born to Leo and Martha Rousseau on December 3rd, 1946, in Walla Walla, Washington. Mary was the youngest of 3, including her brothers Jerry and Charley.

Her father, a mechanic and her mother, a homemaker, moved frequently with their young family, living in Waitsburg, Pendleton, Winlock and Salem. Her father died in a tragic accident with a train when she was 16 and her mother died of a heart attack on her 17th birthday.

Mary and Joe Van Buren raised a blended family (Joanne, Trina, Bernadene, Joseph, Monica, Barbara, Paul, Angela and Tonya) in Gresham, Oregon. She was a parishioner of Holy Rosary Dominican Parish in Portland for many years and a member of the Third Order. From an early age Mary developed her art skills with formal training and practice. Her home was adored with religious paintings of her own creation, as well as statues of the saints, relics, icons and holy cards. Mary restored religious statues with her youngest daughter, Tonya, including the nativity set still in use at St Mary's Church in Cottonwood. Her work can be seen at Holy Rosary as she assisted with a major church renovation in the 1990's.

Mary followed her daughter, Tonya Parmantier and her family to Cottonwood in the Fall of 2021. The last year of her life brought many trials with the death of her daughter Angela, a stroke and declining health. Always reverent in God's House, Mary is finally with our Lord. In closing, I leave you with the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians:

"Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day."

A rosary will be held at St Mary's Catholic Church, Cottonwood on Saturday, September 6th, 2025, at 10:00 am with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10:30 am. A reception will be held at the Cottonwood Community Hall. Arrangements are under the direction of the Blackmer Funeral Home, Grangeville. Send condolences to the family at blackmerfuneralhome.com.

Mary will be buried at St Barabara's Cemetery in Salem, Oregon, beside her mother. A time for the graveside service will be announced later.