Mary C. Arnold

Age 98, passed away March 3, 2021. She was born December 8, 1922, in Surabaya, Dutch East Indies (now known as Indonesia) to Gerrit “Jan” and Sainem LaPere.

Mary grew up on a coffee plantation in the Dutch East Indies which was managed by her father.   Mary and her family were held captive in a Japanese concentration camp during World War II in Dutch East Indies; they all survived.  Her family immigrated to The Netherlands in 1953 and legally immigrated to the U.S. in 1958 to pursue the “American Dream,” through hard work, the sponsorship of the Lansing United Methodist Church and the support and friendship of the many American friends she and her family made.  They became proud American citizens in 1963!  Mary enjoyed her career as a seamstress at The Style Shop in downtown Lansing and later at Maurice’s. She was a longstanding member of the Holt United Methodist Church.

Mary is survived by her children, Anne (Ray) Irvine, Conny Ludwig, and Jan Jeekel; grandchildren, Angie, Sarah, Eric, and Aaron; 6 great-grandchildren; sister, Agatha “Atie” Snoep; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family living in the U.S. and The Netherlands. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Cor VanVeen; brother, Jan LaPere; and granddaughter, Anita.

Thank you to the caring and professional staff at Safe Haven Assisted Living in Okemos, especially Tamesha, Becky and Natalie.

The funeral service will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 6, 2021, at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel. Interment will follow in East Lawn Memory Gardens, Okemos. Her family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. Memorial contributions may be made to the Holt United Methodist Church.