Not many families can boast about their ninety-eight-year-old matriarch showing up to her great-grandchildren’s Halloween party dressed up as a ladybug. Yet her outfit perfectly captured the frivolity of Mary Martha Young Hoebeke, known to our family as “Mimi”. As ladybugs do, she brought joy, happiness, and laughter to everybody. She believed “The MOST important things in life to be love and relationships.” 

Mary was born on January 20, 1925 to Hermanus and Sarah (Orbaker) Young in Pultneyville, New York. She was the third of four children, including her older sisters, Hermina and Edith, and younger brother John. Their closely-knit family owned and farmed fruit orchards in upstate New York.

On July 2nd, 1949 she married Richard Hoebeke of Grand Rapids, Michigan. She proudly to gave birth to Sara (Duane) Cowall, and Bob (Molly) Hoebeke. Mimi’s grandchildren included Shelby (Jake) Ellzey; Whitney (Max) Jodry; Ashley (David) Fulton-Howard; and Rob Cowall. She was thrilled to be loved by five great-grandchildren, McCall and Jack Ellzey; and Wells, Crews, and Emerson Jodry. She loved and lived to always be a part of her extended family’s shenanigans, usually holding court while telling the best and most colorful stories at family gatherings.

She graduated with a BA from Hope College, studied at the University of Vermont, and received a post-graduate MA in Library Science from Dominican University of River Forest, Illinois. Mary’s extended studies served her well at libraries in Elmhurst, Illinois, and Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas. She invested deeply in the organizations where she felt lead to serve, including Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano (where she still holds the record for most volunteered hours shared), Travis Wolfe Law Libraries, PEO Chapter DX, and on numerous committees and volunteer roles at Presbyterian Village North. Each organization was a benefactor of her radiant social skills and brilliant mind.

Mimi loved people. Even in her last few months of life she was constantly re-inventing herself by making new friends (several of whom came to read to her when she could no longer see the pages), always making them the centerpiece of conversation. Even when her friends preceded her in death, she made new ones.

Mary’s death on September 25th, 2024 will leave a huge hole in all of our hearts. Yet her exceedingly strong faith leaves an important legacy in the lives of her family members, as well as a strong witness in the communities of friends who loved her as much as she loved them. Most importantly, Mimi finished her life in love and faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Well done, Mimi, you finished your race, kept the faith and are now home with Jesus!

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Cor 13: 7 & 13

Her family is grateful for the care and kindness she received from the staff at Presbyterian Village North, and Faith Hospice. Special thanks to Nancy Sheets, Lena Tessma, and Ben Mergren who made Mary’s transition to heaven comfortable. Interment will be at the Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church columbarium during a private, family service per Mary’s request.