Mary Rita Pipp's Obituary
Mary Rita (Raddatz) Pipp, age 86, of Grand Haven passed away April 28, 2016, at the Heartwood Lodge Hospice Residence. She was born on August 30, 1929 to Charles and Mary Raddatz in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After graduating from Mercy Central School of Nursing, she worked as a public health nurse. In 1954, she married Walter Benjamin “Ben” Pipp, and together they raised six children: Bill (Terri) Pipp, Marty (Fred) Petillo, Molly Pipp, Wally (Sharon) Pipp, Polly (Eric) Mariani, and Erin Calderon. Mary also loved her eight grandchildren: Jeff, Gabriela, Stephanie, Madeline, Ava, Ben, Walt, and Brandon.
Over their 52-year marriage, Mary and Ben made their home in Grand Rapids, MI; Glen Ellyn, IL; and Birmingham, MI. They retired in 1989 to Grand Haven where they partnered with a developer to build the Boardwalk Condominiums, Mary’s home until her health failed. For 85 years, Mary lived her life to the fullest as a wife, mother, grandmother, friend, nurse, landlord, gardener, and fully engaged Grand Haven resident. Mary was creative, energetic, and dedicated to her family.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Mary Raddatz; her husband, Ben; and her brother, Kenneth “Bud” Raddatz. Her family would like to express their gratitude to the Heartwood Lodge Hospice Residence staff for the excellent care and loving support they provided over the last twelve months of her life.
The funeral mass will be held at 10:30 AM Monday, May 2, 2016 at St. Patrick-St. Anthony Catholic Church in Grand Haven with Rev. Father Kenneth Schichtel as celebrant. Visitation will be 4-6 PM Sunday, May 1, at VanZantwick Bartels Kammeraad Funeral Home in Grand Haven, with a Rosary service at 6:00 PM. An additional time of visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church. Interment will take place in Lake Forest Cemetery in Grand Haven. Memorial contributions in honor of Mary may be given to Hospice of North Ottawa Community. Share memories with the family at their online guest book at www.vbkfuneralhome.com.
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