Mary Margaret (Kalanj) Rice

Mary Margaret Rice, 89, of Paw Paw, MI passed away Friday morning at home surrounded by family.

Born February 12, 1932 in Calumet, Michigan.  Preceded in death by her parents, immigrants from Yugoslavia, Paul Kalanj and Mary (Stipich) Kalanj.

She was also preceded in death by her only sibling, a brother, Frank Kalanj and her husband LaVern R. Rice.

She leaves “a very special family”, a daughter Jane Rice of Portage, MI, and sons John (Anne) Rice of Kalamazoo and Jim Rice of Carlsbad, CA, grandchildren Noah (Gillian Torres) Rice of The Woodlands, TX and Abbey (Alex Mussat) Rice of Grandville, MI, a sister-in-law Barbara (Terrell) Kalanj of Paw Paw, and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and cousins.

Blessed with friends who made her trip through life fun and exciting.  She was thankful to all of them!

After High School, she began working at the First National Bank.  She was the Chief Deputy Clerk Van Buren County and retired in 2005 after over 20 years of dedicated service.  Mary was a lifelong member of St. Mary Catholic Church, officer of the Paw Paw High School Booster Club, and more recently a regular volunteer at Eleanor’s Pantry.

Mary was united in marriage, on January 14, 1961 to LaVern R. Rice who passed away in 1987.  She was a devoted mother to her three children.

Mary was an avid sports fan especially of Big 10 football and basketball. She loved cooking, golfing and traveling.

There will be no public visitation. Mass of Christian burial will take place Friday, February 4, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Mary Catholic Church, Paw Paw, with Rev. Fr. Robert F. Creagan Officiant.  Mary felt that memorials and flowers are not necessary, that “your friendship was all she needed”.  “If you must – raise your glass in a toast or bow your head in prayer”.