Mary Anne Siemonsma

Mary Anne Siemonsma was born June 26, 1934 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada to James Joseph Lyons and Anna Maloney Lyons. Mary Anne was their first born and older sister to Jane Margaret Lyons. Mary Anne cherished memories of learning downhill skiing alongside her sister Jane, guided by their cousin Peter. As they grew older, she and her friends would spend winters competing in snow ski races, and her summers were filled with camp adventures.

Mary Anne graduated from the Gloucester Street Convent of the Congregation de Notre Dame high school in 1951. She enrolled at McGill University in Montreal for a year but enjoyed skiing more than attending to her studies. Her father decided that she should return to Ottawa and work while deciding what she wanted to do with her life. She accepted a job working for Bell Canada Enterprises that she liked very much.

In 1955, a friend of her mothers’ introduced MaryAnne to a medical student named Harry Siemonsma, from the University of Ottawa. After a whirlwind romance he proposed to her behind the Parliament Buildings overlooking the Ottawa River, and she said yes.

In 1956, Mary Anne and Harry exchanged their vows at St Joseph's Church in Ottawa, Canada. Following the wedding, the newlyweds set out on their honeymoon, embarking on a journey across the United States and exploring various American National Parks.  In the later years of their marriage, Harry affectionately teased Mary Anne about her map-reading skills, which, on occasion, led them astray during their honeymoon. Ultimately, their journey brought them to Los Angeles, California, where Harry was scheduled to start a medical residency program just one week later.

Following Harry's completion of his residency, the family relocated to Orange County, where Harry acquired a medical practice from a retiring physician. Mary Anne played a helpful role, intermittently assisting in the management of the front office while raising their growing family.

By 1971 Mary Anne and Harry Siemonsma had embraced eight children into their family. One of the most significant contributions of Mary Anne's life was her unwavering advocacy for her two youngest children with special needs and her determination to create a place that would provide them with dignity and the best quality of life possible when older. Alongside a small team of individuals, including her husband, they embarked on the establishment of a series of group homes inspired by Jean Vanier's model for individuals with cognitive disabilities.

Mary Anne Siemonsma was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Siemonsma; her son, Paul Siemonsma; and her daughter, Nancy Siemonsma; her parents, Jim and Anna Lyons; her mother and father-in-law, Harry and Laura Siemonsma; her sister-in-law, Helen Siemonsma, Jo Siemonsma (Bob Semonsen); her brother-in-law, Jim Siemonsma, Jimmy Palm, and her niece, Susan Semonsen.

Surviving family members include Mary Anne's daughters: Jane (Rob Wetzel), Julia Wherry, Michelle, and Mary Ann Siemonsma; her sons: Mark (Dawn) Siemonsma and David (Janet) Siemonsma; her  grandchildren, Luke Itano, Nathaniel Hoyt, Zachary and Alex Wherry, Mathew, Brian, and Taren Siemonsma, Brinley, Chance, Sianna, and Chandler Siemonsma, as well as 13 great-grandchildren.  Additionally, Mary Anne is survived by her sister, Jane Fitzsimmons of Ottawa, Canada as well as her Canadian nieces: Mary Anne, Jennie, and nephews: Clayton, Jim, and Bill Fitzsimmons. Other surviving relatives include a brother-in-law, Michael Siemonsma, sister-in-law, Sally Stites, nieces and nephews from the Semonsen family; Bob(Tina), Mary Sydlik, Sally, Laura Schultz(Ned), Paul, Dan(Lisa) & Aileen(Hugh) and two nieces, Kathy(Rick Edgley) and Judy(Jim Hewitt) Palm.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary Anne Siemonsma, please visit our floral store.