Maria "Mary" Neeltje Van Klaveren

Maria (Mary) grew up in Hazerswoude and worked on her father’s nursery, tending to the gardens. In 1954, she married her husband, Gerrit Van Klaveren. In 1958, they immigrated with their two sons to Artesia, California, to make a better life for their family. In 1965, the family returned to the Netherlands to work in the family nursery business. Nine years later, Gerrit and Mary immigrated again, to the U.S., this time to Modesto, California, where they started an almond orchard and grape vineyard. In 1979, they saw a greater opportunity to start their own nursery business with their family. Once again, they uprooted the family, and moved north, to Lake Stevens, WA, where they settled and started Van Klaveren’s Nursery. In 1995, they became citizens, and planted their roots here for good.

Mary was a homemaker and avid gardener. She was blessed with a giving heart. She cheerfully gave money to scores of charitable organizations. One of her talents was knitting. She was well known for knitting hundreds and hundreds of sweaters for children in need, in third world countries. In her retirement, she knitted 2 sweaters a week. Her church, Cascade Christian Reformed, supported her with skeins of colorful yarn, and different ladies would pick up the finished sweaters, and mail them to the organization she worked with. She truly embodied her God given talents.

Mary leaves behind her son Jacob and Trudy, (Corinna, Jessica, Gerrit), son Teunis and Kathryn, (Steven, Kristen, Joseph), son Garry and Nan, (Peter, Timothy) and daughter Marianne and Andre, (Lauren) and nine great grandchildren. Preceding her in death are her husband, Gerrit, and granddaughter, Meghan.

A Memorial Service will be held Friday, June, 18, 2021, at 11:00 at Evergreen Funeral Home and Cemetery, Everett, WA. The viewing will be held Thursday, June 17, from 4-7:00 p.m., also at Evergreen Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be given to World Vision International, Federal Way, or Cascade Christian Reformed Church, Marysville.