Obituary of Mary A. VanDerKrake

Mary (Kwak) (Meyer) (VanDerKrake) Braun, 82, was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She left this world unexpectedly on February 27, 2022. She was born to Wilhelmina and Claas Kwak on June 12, 1939, in Holland. She leaves behind her beloved husband Fred of Unadilla, NY. Loving mother to her four Meyer sons: Daniel; his wife Marilyn and three children, Lauryn, Bryan and his wife Adriana, and Annalysse. Her second son Kenneth. Douglas; his wife Marlene and two children, Ryan, Karly, and her husband Will. And finally, her son Scott; his wife Heidi and four children, Madison, Grace, her fiancé Justin, Max and Ella. The first born of six children and survived by her siblings: John Kwak, his partner Juli, Nick Kwak, his wife Marlene, Tonia Shainberg and Wilhelmina Mankovich. Mary adored her stepson David Braun, his wife Katie and four children, Joshua, Bethany, Abbey and Hannah, and Mary’s stepdaughter Martha Monser, her fiancé Jim Venable and her two children, Elizabeth and Sam. Mary had a large extended family that she cherished, and many cousins and relatives in Holland. Predeceased by her brother Arnould Kwak, her sons’ father Karl Meyer and her former husband Peter VanDerKrake. Mary arrived in America with her parents and siblings in 1953 and settled in Ridgewood, NJ where she attended Ridgewood High School. She began her career as an Assistant Director of Food Services at Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood, NJ while raising her sons and growing her own catering business. After 18 years of dedication to Pascack Valley Hospital she retired to Bainbridge, NY. But retirement didn't last long for Mary; soon she was working in food management at Sidney Hospital and joining many community programs. She began “Share the Bounty” of Sidney, NY, serving the community a free meal the last Thursday of every month for over 20 years. Mary was an active member of Sidney United Methodist Church and enjoyed participating in the tractor club. She loved bluegrass music, quilting, gardening, square-dancing and traveling. She loved spending afternoons with the mahjong ladies losing money to donate to a good cause. Mary will be sadly missed by every life she touched. Calling hour on Sunday, March 6 at 1PM followed by the funeral at 2PMat Sidney United Methodist Church, Sidney, NY. Burial service on Monday, March 7 at 1PM at Maryrest Cemetery, Mahwah, NJ. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Mary’s memory to the Sidney United Methodist Church, 12 Liberty St, Sidney, NY 13838. All donations will be used to fund “Mary’s Meal Ministry,” a program started by Mary to send monthly meals to 8-10 homebound people.”