Mary Patricia Van House, lived a full life
To give and receive love was the essence of Mary Patricia Van House, 76, who ascended to be with the angels Saturday, July 15, 2023, at Albany Medical Center in Albany, N.Y. Mary, of Mt. Gretna, Pa., formerly Milton, passed peacefully surrounded by family after a sudden illness. She brought joy and love to her family, friends, and communities through her two full careers, her ministries, and her positive and calming nature.
Mary, the eldest of three sisters, was born March 28, 1947, to Mary (Grogan) and George Van House in Salt Lake City, Utah. She adored her two children, Sarah (Matthew) Beebe of Lewes, and Andrew ”Andy” (Kristyn) Sprague of Pittsburgh, Pa. She equally loved her four stepchildren, Forrest “Woody”, Heather, Courtney (Byron) and Jason (Kara). She was blessed with eight grandchildren, Andrew, Kirk, Brooke, Cole, Tyler, Amaya, Avery and Caelen. Mary found love and a wonderful life with her husband, Bill Shearer (her Yogi) for the last 10 years.
She graduated from St. Mary of the Wasatch Catholic High School in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1964 and earned a bachelor’s in mathematics at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., in 1968. She received a teaching certificate from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va., in 1970, and taught middle school math in Richmond for several years.
While teaching in Richmond, she began taking in-service courses about marine science and developed a love for the beach and all its precious creatures. She received a master of science in marine studies from the College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment at University of Delaware in 1980. She then had a 25-year career as an environmental educator at Children’s Beach House in Lewes. She taught thousands of Delaware children of all ages and abilities about the Delaware beaches and their critters, especially the horseshoe crab. Her children remember that every trip to the beach turned into a lesson for anyone within earshot as Mary bent over a yellow bucket, excited about the univalves, bivalves, and crustaceans collected at low tide.
In her 60s, Mary made a complete career change into counseling. She received a master of science in counseling and pastoral care from Neumann University in Aston, Pa., in 2009. She had a 15-year career as a bereavement counselor for Compassionate Care Hospice and as a therapist specializing in transitions of life. She supported hundreds of people with difficult transitions through her work with hospice and her Alzheimer’s and grief support groups.
Outside of her professional life, Mary served her community and surrounded herself with a large group of close friends. Her legacy was the labyrinth ministry at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Lewes that she started in the late 1990s. With the help of her St. Peter’s family, she designed and constructed both indoor and outdoor labyrinths, a walking meditation practice. People can be seen every day walking the labyrinth on Second Street at all hours. She also served as a consultant to many organizations and churches in the Mid-Atlantic designing and building labyrinths. She also loved hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing with her husband Bill at their Adirondack ‘Moose Camp’ cottage they team-built in Bloomingdale, N.Y., cheering on the Ohio State Buckeyes, gardening, and walking her Great Dane, Otie.
Mary is preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Teri Cettina of Portland, Ore.; and her stepson, Forrest “Woody” Sprague of Hockessin. She is survived by her loving husband, her children, stepchildren, and grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Nancy Van House of Berkley, Calif.; her late sister’s family, Greg, Sophie and Flora Cettina; and numerous friends who felt like family. For all, we continue to feel her full spirit and soul for it is within us now and forever. Her pure, infinite love lets this happen and leads the way. God's love abides.
A memorial labyrinth walk will be held Sunday, July 23, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Parish Hall in Lewes. Both labyrinths will be open for walking and meditation in honor of Mary from 7 to 9 p.m. A memorial service will be held at St. Peter’s at 1 p.m., Monday, July 24. A private burial will be at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Pilottown Road, Lewes. Attendees are asked to wear casual, colorful attire in honor of the celebration of Mary’s life.
For those who wish in lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s name may be made to the Palliative Care Team, Albany Medical Center, c/o Albany Med Foundation, 43 New Scotland Ave., MC-119, Albany, NY 12208.
