Mary Zimmerman Obituary Mary R. (VanWassenhove) Zimmerman, 96, passed away on September 17, 2024 at her home in Bowmont, Idaho. She was born August 13, 1928, the fifth child of Raymond and Irma VanWassenhove. Mary grew up on the family farm at the foot of Lizard Butte on Sunnyslope. She graduated from St. Theresas Academy in 1946 and from Mercy Hospitals Nursing School in 1949. After graduation she traveled to Seattle, Detroit and Jersey City where she worked as a Nurse. Upon returning to Idaho, she worked at Mercy Hospital and was hired away by Dr. W. B. Ross in Nampa. She worked as his RN for many years retiring in 1969 when she married Joseph Zimmerman and became a mother to his 3 children Linda, Jim and Ron. Joe and Mary expanded the Zimmerman Dairy by building barns, sheds, pens, and a wastewater system. Mary worked alongside Joe to help run a successful Grade A dairy. Their dairy won numerous awards including the cleanest dairy in Idaho along with high production throughout the years it was in operation. Upon retiring, Joe and Mary built a new home on the "backside" of their place where they both lived for the rest of their lives. Mary was known for her kindness and willingness to help family. She stepped in and helped her brother, Joseph, raise his six children (all under the age of 11) after his wife passed away unexpectedly in 1961. She helped her sister, Madeleine, during her battle with cancer. She cared for her aged uncle who lived on the home place on Sunnyslope in addition to caring for her parents prior to their deaths. She gave the nieces and nephews their immunizations at their home. She provided home nursing visits to Dr. Rosss patients throughout the Marsing and Homedale communities. Mary was a life-long, devoted Catholic. At the time of her death, she was a parishioner at St. Pauls Catholic Church in Nampa. She volunteered countless hours at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank, as an Alter Society Member at St. Joes in Melba and anywhere else that she could lend a hand. She was a devoted member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas for 77 years. Mary was preceded in death by her loving husband, Joe; parents, Raymond and Irma VanWassenhove; and all of her siblings: Paul, Zoe (Joe) Ineck, Joseph (Bette and Clara), Silvie (Chuck) Smith, and Madeleine (Bud) Schuler, her step-daughter Linda (Wayne) Diggs and a granddaughter. She is survived by her sons Ron and Jim (Cindy) Zimmerman, 6 grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. While they say that it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a village to help keep a 96-year-old living independently. Mary could not have stayed at her home on the farm without the loving help of her family including Ron Zimmerman, nieces Jayne (Don) Nelson and Joanne (Mike) Bradford, great nieces Madeleine (Tony) Hall, Tessa (Brandon) Smith and great-great nephew and nieces Bradford and Renee Smith and Clara Hall along with a bunch of great neighbors that kept a watchful eye on her, brought her prepared meals and gave her rides to or from church when needed. Visitation and Rosary will be held from 2:00-4:00 pm at Nampa Funeral Home Yraguen Chapel (415 12th Ave S, Nampa) on Sunday, September 29, 2024. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am, Monday, September 30, 2024, at St. Pauls Catholic Church (510 W. Roosevelt Ave, Nampa). Father Jerry Funke will officiate. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Nampa. The family suggests that memorial contributions may be made to St. Pauls Catholic School Building Fund, 810 15th Ave. So., Nampa, ID 83651. An online guest book is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com Services Recitation of the Rosary Sunday September 29, 2024 2:00 PM Nampa Funeral Home 415 12th Ave. So. Nampa, Idaho 83651 Mass of Christian Burial Monday September 30, 2024 10:00 AM St. Pauls Catholic Church 510 W. Roosevelt Ave. Nampa, Idaho 83686