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Aug. 20. 1940-Dec. 19. 2023

In the early morning hours of Dec. 19, 2023, our spirited and compassionate matriarch, Freda Belle “MiMi” Marks, took her final bow. Born on a sunny August day in 1940, in Buchanan, MI, Freda went on to light up our lives in Berrien Springs, MI, with her generous spirit and loving heart. She was a fiercely independent woman, with a flair for fashion, and a knack for whipping up a batch of her famous “unbaked” cookies.
Freda was much more than just a cook in a local restaurant. She was our very own Julia Child. She enjoyed teaching her grandchildren and great-grandchildren how to play penny poker. She enjoyed tending to her garden, bowling, and playing pool, and watching any Judge show, especially Judge Judy. However, her proudest achievement, the one that made her eyes sparkle more than any diamond, was her family. Freda’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her world, and she would move mountains for them. She leaves behind her cherished daughter, Chaya (Larry) Schmeling; sisters, Reda White and Vickie Maggert; beloved grandchildren, Brandon (Chelsea) Schmeling, Stephen Schmeling, Scott (Brandy) Marks, and Brittney (Kyle) Duncombe; and her precious great-grandchildren whom she adored, Gabriel Schmeling, Tristan Schmeling, Natalie Schmeling, Luke Duncombe, Liv Duncombe, Madeline Marks, Emelia Marks.
Our MiMi, as she was affectionately known, was preceded in death by her parents, Edgar and Gertrude Baldwin; her loving husband, Ronald Marks; her sons, Ronald, Donald, and John Marks; and her sisters, Marilyn Sudduth, Wanita Mercado, Dee Mullen, and Sharon Lester. We find comfort in knowing that they were there to welcome her with open arms in a casino.
We invite you to join us in celebrating Freda’s zest for life on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, at Hoven Funeral Home, 414 East Front Street, Buchanan, MI. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 1 p.m. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery, Berrien Springs, MI.
In Freda’s honour, we encourage you to share your favorite memories, stories, and photos of her on her memorial page. Let’s remember our MiMi, with laughter and love, just the way she would have wanted.