Mary Van Antwerp

Mary Elizabeth Pillans Van Antwerp, 95, died Sunday, November 22, 2015 at her Fairhope, AL, residence. Visitation will be held at Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home, Fairhope, AL on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 from 1:00-2:00 pm, followed by graveside service at 3:00 pm at Montrose Cemetery (7370 Sibley Street, Montrose, AL), with the Reverend Dennis Brown officiating. Mrs. Van Antwerp was preceded in death by her parents, Harry Torrey Pillans and Rosalia Navarro Pillans of Mobile; by her husband of 44 years, Garet Van Antwerp, III; and by her sister Patricia Anne Pillans Johnson of Daphne, AL. Survivors include her son, Garet “Skip” Van Antwerp, IV of Fairhope; daughters Mary Alden Van Antwerp (Jack Korfhage) of Daphne, AL and Baton Rouge, LA, Anne Torrey Van Antwerp DeKeyser (Armand) of Birmingham, AL and Point Clear, AL, Nancy Lesesne Van Antwerp Shaneyfelt (Randy) of Mobile; granddaughter Catherine Laine Hannon of Houston, TX; grandsons and stepgrandsons David Van Antwerp Smitherman (Olivia) of Birmingham, Garet Patton Smitherman of Birmingham, AL; Phillip Armand DeKeyser of Mobile and Ft. Lauderdale, FL; and David Prescott DeKeyser of Brooklyn, NY; and great granddaughter Mary Mead Smitherman of Birmingham, AL, and several nieces and nephews. Mrs. Van Antwerp was a lifelong resident of Mobile and the Eastern Shore, having lived in Fairhope since 1984. She graduated from Murphy High School in 1936 and from the University of Alabama in 1940 where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma social sorority. She also earned a master’s degree in counseling from the University of South Alabama. Mrs. Van Antwerp spent some years as a teacher of handicapped children at the Russell School and later became a rehabilitation counselor working primarily with the mentally ill. She was involved in numerous volunteer and civic activities, including the Mobile Symphony, Mobile Opera Guild and the Junior League of Mobile. She was a lifelong Episcopalian and also attended the Fairhope Unitarian Fellowship. Mrs. Van Antwerp was perhaps best known in the arts community where she enjoyed working as an award-winning photographer, potter and poet. Her works have been featured in numerous publications and are housed in museums and private collections across the region. A master storyteller, Mrs. Van Antwerp also was an astute listener and brilliant conversationalist known for her quick wit and sense of humor. Her compassionate heart, kindness to others, and unwavering love for her family and friends touched countless many who remain devoted to her memory. Mrs. Van Antwerp’s family would like to thank the staff of Homestead Village for the many years of support and friendship they provided and to the wonderful nurses, aides and sitters from Covenant Hospice and Synergy Home Care for the wonderful care and comfort they gave in her final days. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Eastern Shore Art Center (401 Oak Street, Fairhope, Alabama 36532), Mobile Historic Preservation Society (300 Oakleigh Pl, Mobile, AL 36604), Wilmer Hall Children’s Home (3811 Old Shell Rd, Mobile, AL 36608) or the donor’s favorite charity. ARRANGEMENTS BY WOLFE-BAYVIEW FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY, INC. 19698 GREENO ROAD FAIRHOPE, AL 36532