Obituary of Mary C. Heins VanHouten

Mary C. DeVoe Heins VanHouten of Monticello, a retired Licensed Practical Nurse, and lifelong resident of the area, passed away after a battle with brain cancer, on Christmas Eve, 2020.  She was 77.

The youngest daughter of the late Raymond DeVoe and Ethel Baxter DeVoe, she was born December 19, 1943 in Ellenville, NY, and grew up in Ulster Heights.

A graduate of Ellenville High School Mary was well liked and popular, with a personality that everyone gravitated towards. Her laugh was loved by all that were lucky to hear it and continued to be her signature trait throughout her life.

Mary graduated from Grasslands School of Practical Nursing in the spring of 1964. She took such pride in being a LPN. She was admired for her professionalism, patience and kindness. Her first nursing job was at Hamilton Avenue Hospital in Monticello. After that, she worked at Walnut Mountain Care Center and then Catskill Regional Hospital, from where she retired.

She was an avid gardener of both vegetables and flowers but preferred the latter. Mary loved taking pictures of her prized flowers, especially her orchids in Florida. She looked forward to wintering in Florida each year with her husband and beloved dog, Maggie. She was a great Christmas cookie baker and would take her granddaughters out of school each December for them to participate in Hookie Cookie Day with their Nana. Mary was a talented crafter with most recently taking up quilting. She was an active member of the Monticello Fire Department Auxiliary and enjoyed her summers down at Fireman's Camp. Mary was a devoted member of the Methodist churches in Woodridge, Monticello and Lake Como, Florida. She was previously on a bowling league, played in the Monticello Women’s Softball league, and loved her yearly cross country ski trips with her friends to Speculator. She enjoyed many years of camping with her family and friends.

She is survived by her husband: Henry C. VanHouten, at home; two daughters: Pam Murran & her husband Jim of Rock Hill, and Wendy Wells & her husband Dave of Monticello; two granddaughters: Alison Wells & Megan Wells; a sister: Evelyn LeVan of St. Augustine, FL; her step children: Henry E. (Patti) VanHouten of Lacona, Danielle VanHouten of Newburgh, Theresa Dyeseven of Woodridge, Andrea (Jeff) Mathews of Narrowsburg and Brittany (Robert) VanJohnson of Syracuse; five step grandchildren: Christina VanHouten , Anthony Dyeseven, Julia Mathews, Gemma Mae and Elise VanJohnson; and several nieces and nephews.  In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her siblings, Charles DeVoe, Ruth Orner and Robert DeVoe.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 29 from 4:00 to 6:00pm (with a private service to follow) at the VanInwegen-Kenny Funeral Home, 401 Broadway in Monticello. Due to the current health crisis, social distancing guidelines must be met - a limited number of people at one time will be allowed in the funeral home, and facemasks are required. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties www.hospiceoforange.com

Arrangements are under the direction of the VanInwegen-Kenny, Inc. Funeral Home of Monticello NY; for additional information or to send an online condolence, please visit www.kennyfuneralhome.com