legacy

 This week I stumbled on an obituary that stopped me in my tracks. 

This is was my mom's good friend Mary Jane. She was a dear friend to my mom in some of her most challenging years. I remember (maybe 9-12 years old) going to her house often. She was also drove school bus with my step-father for about 20 years. She also knew my dad, there are not too many of those folks left since he died in 1978.  She did not have an easy life and suffered abuse for many years. She remarried later in life and  I believe found joy.  Her obituary made me smile but also left pools in my eyes. Her faith carried her and her strength moved her forward.

Obit

Mary Jane VanWassenova was on born February 2, 1943, in South Rockwood, Michigan. She was one of four children and the only daughter born to the union of Leroy VanWassenova and Anna Louise (Meyer) VanWassenova. Mary attended Trenton High School in Trenton, Michigan, graduating with the class of 1961.

To help provide for her family Mary worked as a bus driver in the Jefferson School District for more than thirty years before retiring. She was a member of the South Rockwood Senior Citizens and St. Charles Catholic Church where she volunteered her time helping with funeral luncheons.

On November 25, 2016, she married Ronald Masserant at St. Charles Catholic Church. Together the couple were blessed with a blended family of seven children. Mary was quite the bookworm taking every opportunity she could to delve into one of her favorite romance novels or finding solace within the pages of the Bible. She was very gifted in the kitchen and if she wasn’t preparing her delicious lasagna or bread stuffing she might possibly be baking an apple or rhubarb pie. Likewise, Mary enjoyed being in her garden tending to her roses, tomatoes, cucumbers and the rhubarb she used for her pies. Mary was very kind and generous and always willing to help others in need. She loved her family and was especially fond of her grandchildren who affectionately referred to her as “Mimi”.

Mary Jane Lemerand-Masserant, age 82 of Newport, Michigan passed away on Saturday; May 17, 2025, at Fountain View of Monroe. Her passing was preceded by her parents: Leroy and Louise VanWassenova and two brothers: Gary and Alan Joseph VanWassenova.

To cherish her memory she leaves her husband of eight years: Ronald Masserant of Newport; a daughter: Wendy (Jerry) Venier; two sons: Charlie (Jody) Lemerand and Rick Lemerand; Ronald’s children: Chad (Michelle) Masserant, Ronnalee (David) Zambeck, Ryan (Becky) Masserant, and Kurt (Lora) Masserant; a brother: Mat (Janet) VanWassanova; her sister in law: Barb VanWassenova; eleven grandchildren: Nicholas and Brent Lemerand, Hayley and Ashley Masserant, Nicholas and Noah Zambeck, Luke, Kolby, and Stephan Masserant, and Zachary, Nathan, and Lindsay Masserant; and two great grandsons: Hayden and Luca Lemerand.

Friends may gather from 10:00am until 11:00 am on Wednesday; May 21, 2025, at St. Charles Catholic Church; 8125 Swan Creek Road, Newport, Michigan 48166. Mass of the Resurrection will begin at 11:00am also at St. Charles Catholic Church with Father Henry Rebello, as celebrant. Procession will follow to St. Charles Cemetery for burial.