VALLIERE Mary H. (Hackett), age 99 of Grand Rapids joined the souls of the faithful departed on December 15 2011. Through the mercy of God may she also rest in peace. She was preceded to life everlasting by her husband of 57 years Edward H. Valliere Jr. Mary was the oldest daughter of Dr. John and Lillian Hackett of Mount Pleasant Michigan she was baptized and formed in faith at Sacred Heart Academy. She married Edward H. Valliere Jr. in 1939. Edward and Mary raised eight children formed in faith at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. Mary will be lovingly remembered by her children Maureen (John) Malone of Flower Mound TX Joan (Lyman) Williams of Traverse City MI Patricia Stewart Battle of Arlington VA Edward (Diane) Valliere Therese (Robert) Wolf Raymond (Patty) Valliere Dennis (Joyce) Valliere of Grand Rapids MI and Carol (Timothy) Little of Kalkaska MI; her grandchildren Julie Poposki Carl Poposki and Steve (Jill) Poposki Jeb Stewart Elizabeth Stewart and David Stewart John Valliere Jenny (Anrijs) Bergs and Michael (Ashley) Valliere Nathaniel (Lisa) Wolf and Katherine (Drew) Broaddus Christopher Valliere and Abby Valliere Ashleigh (Jason) Rogalewski and Colin Valliere Elise (Dan) Keaton Davin (Katie) Little and Sarah (Dusty) Smith 21 beloved great-grandchildren and several extended families and children. She is survived by two sisters Rose Nanzig and Kathleen (Bob) Rainer; one brother Patrick (Barbara) Hackett and sister-in-law Nancy Hackett.A graduate of Central Michigan University in music and elementary education music was always in her life. Mary directed the music department at Kellogsville high school in the 1930s. After raising a family of eight she resumed her teaching career with the GR public schools head start and elementary programs at Campau elementary and Huff elementary in the 1960s and 1970s. In retirement the Vallieres traveled extensively throughout the country Canada Mexico and Europe England and Ireland. They wintered in Pharr Texas for 20 years then resided at Villa Maria Retirement Center from 1989 until 1996. Mary lived at Heron Woods and then Heron Manor from 1997 until 2011. She then joined the Clark Retirement Community. Mary was a woman of Faith Family and Community. Her lifelong personal relationship with her Lord and Savior was nourished directly by the Holy Spirit through the Sacred Oral Traditions and the Sacred Scriptures of The Catholic Church. She personified the meaning of Love in her wisdom patience and kindness. She was the quintessential Mother always as happy to see any one of her family as on the day they were born. She prayed regularly for those in most need of Gods mercy and daily for the souls of the faithful departed. She was known to pray even as she slept. Mary recited the rosary with the Catholic faith community at Heron Woods/Manor . She attended the Catholic Mass and received the Sacraments through the ministerial services of Father Gene Golas; attended by Lorraine Veneklaus Pearl Krzykwa and Carol Ertl. A heartfelt prayer of gratitude goes out for each of these very special people for their gracious ministry to our dear mother. At Clark Retirement Community Mary was blessed with the services of Fr. Paul Milanowski and Sister Jude Block. A very special thanks to the wonderful staff at Clark for their kind attentiveness to our Mothers needs. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered 10:30 AM at St. Thomas the Apostle Church 1449 Wilcox Park Dr. SE Rev. James A. Chelich presiding. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. Rosary will be recited 7:00 PM. Visitation 2-4 & 6-8 PM at the OBrien-Eggebeen-Gerst Chapel 3980 Cascade Rd., SE and one hour prior to the service at church. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Thomas Education Fund 1449 Wilcox Park Dr. SE Grand Rapids MI 49506.
