Marialyce Dobben

Born Patricia Georgia Hassan on August 30, 1937, in Pontiac, Michigan, she was adopted by Doede and Alice Alkema (Vriesman) and raised in Muskegon—a place she loved and never left. It’s where she built her life, her family, and her community.

Mari and her husband, David, raised six children together, and being a mother was the role she carried with the most pride. She was a constant presence—steady, creative, and strong in ways that shaped the lives around her.

As her children grew, Mari’s creativity found its stage at Port City Playhouse, where she volunteered as a seamstress. That spark turned into something bigger when she and Maggie Richards started M&M Costumes. What began as an idea became a thriving business and a cornerstone of local theater and celebration for years.

Later, she worked alongside David at Butcher Boys and White Lake Meat ’n Place, continuing the pattern that defined her life—family, hard work, and showing up where she was needed.

Together, Mari and David also gave their time and energy to supporting families living with mental illness, offering compassion, advocacy, and understanding drawn from their own experiences.

She was preceded in death by her husband, David James Dobben; her sons Michael and Leon; and her grandsons Peter and Bartley.

Mari is survived by her children, David (Alice), Rhonda, Bartley, and Bruce; along with six grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson, and a wide circle of friends who knew her kindness, her strength, and her enduring spirit.

Her family will hold a celebration of her life at a later date, when stories can be shared, laughter can return, and her memory can be honored in the way she would have wanted—together.

Please visit www.everretfuneralhomeandchapel.com for further information.