Maribeth Ann Harmon's Obituary
Maribeth Ann Harmon, born April 3, 1967, passed away peacefully on February 26, 2026, after a short and unexpected illness.
Maribeth was born in Detroit to Kathleen and Frank Harmon. She was preceded in death by her treasured mother, Kathleen, whom she lovingly described as her beautiful, devoted, and irreplaceable mom.
She was a beloved and devoted mother to her only child, Ryan, who was the light of her life. Maribeth’s love for him never wavered—she was proud, strong-willed, and fiercely dedicated, and he was truly her everything.
Her grandchildren, Xavier Harmon, Elleanna Harmon, and Izekiel Harmon, were among her greatest joys and most cherished blessings. They filled her life with love and light, and she adored being their grandma. Whether she was taking them to see the horses, baking brownies, cheesecake, or crème brûlée, or heading downtown for Pronto Pups, every moment with them was special. Most of all, they treasured their tradition of sharing hot tea or sweet tea with Grandma, in the morning, noon or night.
Maribeth was known for her sense of humor, having once been voted “Class Humor,” a title she truly lived up to. She had a quick wit and a playful spirit—if you weren’t paying attention, you might find yourself caught off guard by one of her clever remarks or jokes.
A hardworking and determined woman, Maribeth owned and operated her own cleaning business for over 15 years while raising Ryan as a single mother. Later in life, she pursued her education to earn her CDL-B license, fulfilling her love of driving. She embraced the open road, whether traveling locally or across the country, finding peace in the scenery and calm in the journey.
She is survived by her son, Ryan Harmon; father, Frank Harmon; her brother, Michael Harmon (Krista); her sister, Kim Villanueva; and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. She also leaves behind her best friends of 46 years, Kathy Boonstra-Dell and Darcy Amlotte-Murphy, with whom she shared a lifetime of unforgettable memories. Together they traveled to Florida, Las Vegas, Arizona, Traverse City, Sugar Island, and many other beautiful destinations. In recent years, even a simple drive along the Grand Haven beaches or the bays of Traverse City brought them solace, storytelling, laughter, and heartfelt conversation.
Maribeth will be remembered for her strength, humor, devotion to family, and her warm, loving heart. Her legacy of resilience, laughter, and unconditional love will live on in all who knew and cherished her.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 7, 2026, at The VanZantwick Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 620 Washington Ave., Grand Haven, MI. VISITATION will be from 2 p.m. until 3 p.m. service at the funeral home. Memorials in lieu of flowers to Out Side In – Serving People Saving Horses. Share memories with the family at their online guest book at https://www.sytsemafh.com.
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