Mary Helen Hodges

Mary Helen Hodges

January 31, 1919 - March 26, 2022

Mary was born in Constantine, Michigan to Joanna and Walter Cooper. Mary was a very kind, loving and spunky lady. When Mary was younger, she worked in a bank and helped with her family’s funeral home business. She met her future husband, Richard, on a flight from Miami and they married in September 1948. They were lovingly married until Richard’s passing in 1997. During their time together, she always played an active role in supporting Richard’s hospitality career. Throughout their journey together they moved 17 times as they lived in Detroit, Oscoda, Ypsilanti, Williamston, and her favorite stop being Marquette, just to name a few.

A lover of good food, Mary knew how to take care of a crowd. Everyone knew it was special when one of Mary’s dishes was added to a meal. Whether that was her famous pot roast, chili, spare ribs, cheesecake, pies or a cake that she might whip up to treat her grandkids.

Devoted to her family, Mary was a much loved sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great grandmother. In her long life Mary had a tremendous impact on the lives of so many people through her love, patience, wit and her fashion sense.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents Joanna and Walter, husband Richard, sister Betty, and nephew Walter. Her memory is held dear by her children, Carolyn (Russell) Rigterink and Richard; grandchildren Jennifer (Brian) Mattison, Bram (Jennifer) Rigterink, Miranda (Aiden) Varro, Thomas Hodges; great-grandchildren Aubrey Mattison and Finn Varro; niece Cheryl (Walter) Schmelzle; great-nephews Norman Schmelzle (Jennifer Kyre) and Marc Schmelzle, along with many friends and loved ones.

A visitation for Mary will be held Friday, April 1, 2022 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 205 East Middle Street, Williamston, MI 48895. The funeral service for Mary will take place on Saturday, April 2, 2022 at 12:00 PM with visitation beginning at 10:30 AM. A small graveside ceremony will be held at Riverside Cemetery in Tekonsha, MI on Sunday, April 3, 2022 at 12 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sparrow Hospice or the Capital Area Humane Society.

Serving as pallbearers are Marc Schmelzle, Norman Schmelzle, Bram Rigterink, Brian Mattison, Thomas Hodges and Richard Hodges.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grwilliamston.com for the Hodges family.