Mary V. Safford

Safford, Mary V. (Bavinck)

Mary V. Safford, age 57, of Kaukauna, passed on to her heavenly home, on Saturday morning, January 22, 2005. She was born August 19, 1947, to the late Dirk and Margretha (Keijzer) Bavinck, in Weesp, the Netherlands. Mary came to this country with her parents in February 1959 and settled in the Appleton area. Mary found her soul mate, in Michael R. Safford, whom she married in May 1988. She was a very special mother and oma, who was devoted to her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed camping, cooking, trivia, puzzles and games. Mary is survived by her husband, Michael; two sons by previous marriages, Kenneth (Lori) Pennings, and their children, Amanda, Nicole, Zachary, Emma and Megan; Erik Franklin and his sons, Devin and Logan. She is further survived by her brothers, Cornelius (Riet) Bavinck, Joseph Bavinck, all of Neenah; Dirk (Antonette) Bavinck, Ben (Jude) Bavinck, sister-in-law, Charlotte Bavinck, all of Appleton; her sister, Willy (Donald) Schumacher, Kaukauna; numerous nephews, nieces and very special friends, Jim and Patty. Mary was preceded in death by her brother, John Bavinck, Appleton; and her sisters, Catharina (Cees) Stork, Oeda (Hugo) Knol and Hendrika (Wim) Kors, all of the Netherlands; a sister-in-law, Sandy Bavinck. Funeral services for Mary will be held at 7:00 pm, Wednesday, January 26, 2005, at the funeral home, with Pastor John Hartenberger officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4:00 pm, Wednesday, until the time of the service. A memorial fund is being established.

Dear Rea, Ma, Oma, Sister, Friend,

We have all been blessed by your love and compassion over the years. We will miss your big smile and warm hugs, but we’ll also cherish the great memories of you. It was awesome doing life with you and we will hold you close in our hearts until we meet again. We love you dearly, and pray that you can feel our hugs.

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12

Gone from our sight:

We’re standing upon the shore.
A ship at our side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze
and starts for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength. We stand and watch her until at length
she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and the sky come to mingle with
each other.
Then someone at our side says:
“There she’s gone.”
“Gone where?”
Gone from our sight.
That is all.
She’s just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left our side
and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.
Her diminished size is in us, not in her.
And just at the moment when someone at our side says;
“There she’s gone!”
There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up
the glad shout:
“Here she comes!’
And that is dying. Henry van Dyke

WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME
537 North Superior Street
Appleton 920-739-1231
www.wichmannfuneralhomes.com