Margaret Jean Siderius

Margaret Jean Siderius (Moerdyk), devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away peacefully on September 13, 2023 at the age of 94. She was born on October 23, 1928 in Amarah, Iraq to Dr. William and Cornelia Moerdyk. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Dr. Norman Siderius, her brother John Moerdyk, and her sisters Betty Short (Moerdyk) and Dorothy Hoekstra (Moerdyk).

Margaret was raised in Amarah, Iraq by Reformed Church of America missionaries and spent her childhood attending boarding school in India. Her fascinating experiences and stories were a cornerstone of her legacy as a faithful follower of Jesus. Throughout her life, she remained a steadfast Christian and was active in the faith community until her final years.

Margaret’s curious mind and passion for science led her to become a pre-med major at Hope College in Holland, Michigan, where her family settled. She then pursued and achieved a Master’s degree of Zoology at Northwestern University in Evanston in 1951. She was married to Dr. Norman Siderius in 1951 and together they had four children. They lived in Chicago, Travis AFB, California and Waterloo, Iowa through the years of his medical training and first practice. In 1972, they moved to her beloved San Diego, California, where she remained for the rest of her life. She devotedly took care of her children and husband as a wonderful mother and wife through careers, colleges, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. In her later years, she enjoyed playing the piano for Faith Chapel’s 50+ group and was a committed participant in her Bible study at the LaVida Real retirement community. Her love for fitness, swimming, music and sunshine continued into her 90’s and remains legendary in her family.

She will always be remembered for the love, generosity and encouragement she gave to everyone in her family. Her family is comforted with the hope and assurance that we will be united again with her for all eternity.

She is survived by her children Jan Magiera, Tom Siderius (Sandy), Judy Siderius, Jim Siderius (Connie) and her grandchildren Jason (Jaime), Daniel (Jen), Mark (Jana), Tonya (Robert), Lynn (Scott), Christina (Ralph), Stephen (Katie), Sarah (Nicholas), Matthew, Natalie, Nicole (Alex), and Michael, as well as her 14 great grandchildren.

She wrote in her autobiography to her family: “Always be happy and rejoice in the Lord because you are a child of God and have such a wonderful Christian heritage and staunch Dutch roots.”

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