Mary Elizabeth Habermas

Mary Elizabeth Habermas, age 73, passed away peacefully on May 6, 2026. She was born in Detroit, Michigan to John and Mary Vrazo on February 12, 1953 as the second oldest of eight children. As she grew up, Mary enjoyed helping take care of her siblings, sewing her own clothes, baking, and playing music on her oboe and piano. She and her family attended the Second Romanian Baptist Church, where she accepted Christ as her Savior at the age of 7. Ron and Mary met at Redeemer Baptist Church in Warren, MI and were married on August 25, 1973. They lived all over the country (and also Canada) while raising their family of 3 daughters, Elizabeth, Melissa, and Susan. Mary completed her undergraduate degree in history at the University of South Carolina. When the family moved to Siloam Springs for Ron to work in the John Brown University Bible Department, Mary pursued her Masters in Library and Information Studies while working at the JBU library. She served as the library director for 14 years before retiring. Mary always loved children — her own children, her grandchildren, the neighborhood kids, and those she taught in children’s church at Siloam Springs Bible Church. She touched many lives with God’s truth and love through songs, flannel graph characters, and of course, Harry the Hedgehog puppet. Mary loved playing the piano, and her daughters remember going to the nursing home with her while she played old hymns and sang to encourage the residents there. She would always request that the family would sing around the piano at every gathering. Mary loved crocheting, and many little babies over the years have been blessed by her beautiful baby blankets that she made for them. She also loved crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, gardening, and researching new things. Mary loved Ron so faithfully. Even as she was recovering from her accident last fall, she was very concerned that he was well taken care of. She loved her family very much, and was grateful to them and her Savior as she went through many struggles these past 9 months since her accident and surgery. The Lord sustained her each day with promises from His word, and the Holy Spirit’s peace. Now she is enjoying perfect wholeness with Him. Mary is survived by her husband Ron, daughters Elizabeth (Corey) Smith, Melissa (Stefan) Siems, Susan (Charles) Greathouse, grandchildren Jacob, Brady, Zac and Charlotte, and many siblings, nieces and nephews. There will be a visitation at the Siloam Springs Bible Church on Saturday, May 16th at 1:00 p.m., followed by a celebration of life service at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Romanian Missionary Society: www.rmsonline.org

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Mary Elizabeth Habermas

February 12, 1953 - May 6, 2026