Mary Margaret Rice, 89, of Paw Paw, passed away Friday morning, Jan. 28, 2022, at home, surrounded by family. She was born Feb. 12, 1932, in Calumet, Michigan. She was preceded in death by her parents, immigrants from Yugoslavia, Paul Kalanj and Mary (Stipich) Kalanj.
She was also preceded in death by her only sibling, a brother, Frank Kalanj and her husband, LaVern R. Rice.
She leaves “a very special family”, a daughter, Jane Rice of Portage, MI; and sons, John (Anne) Rice of Kalamazoo and Jim Rice of Carlsbad, CA; grandchildren, Noah (Gillian Torres) Rice of The Woodlands, TX and Abbey (Alex Mussat) Rice of Grandville, MI; a sister-in-law, Barbara (Terrell) Kalanj of Paw Paw; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins.
She was blessed with friends who made her trip through life fun and exciting. She was thankful to all of them!
After high school, she began working at First National Bank. She was the Van Buren County chief deputy clerk, and retired in 2005 after over 20 years of dedicated service. Mary was a lifelong member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Paw Paw, an officer of the Paw Paw High School Booster Club, and more recently, a regular volunteer at Eleanor’s Pantry, Paw Paw.
Mary was united in marriage on Jan. 14, 1961, to LaVern R. Rice, who passed away in 1987. She was a devoted mother to her three children.
Mary was an avid sports fan, especially of Big 10 football and basketball. She loved cooking, golfing, and traveling.
There will be no public visitation. Mass of Christian burial will take place Friday, Feb. 4, at 11 a.m. at Saint Mary Catholic Church, Paw Paw, with the Rev. Fr. Robert F. Creagan officiant. Mary felt that memorials and flowers are not necessary, that “your friendship was all she needed”. “If you must – raise your glass in a toast or bow your head in prayer”.
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