Death is not the extinguishing of a light, but putting out the lamp (the vessel which held the light) because of the dawn of a new day. Mari's light burned really bright, like the exceptional Christian she was. She was truly a gift to all who knew her and her Sonshine charity was full of Mari's personal love for children and her inspirational Christianity she shared with them. Her charity was established to improve the lives of under-privileged children to bring them happiness and Christian teaching together in an educational setting. Her devotion to her "kids" was one of the highest priorities in her life along with her husband Michael and her family. She was a devout Christian who reached out to others in true, Christian fellowship, hoping to spread the good news. Above all else, Mari was a devoted mother and wife, a loving friend, a caring neighbor and one of the best human beings I have ever known. Our loss is definitely heaven's gain and I know soon, when I look up into the sky in the near future, there will be a rainbow there to remind me that the happiness she spread on earth is now being spread in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mari J. Rothman was born in Willmar Township, Minnesota on July 29, 1947 to Donald and Jean Sands. She was the first of three girls born within less than three years. The fourth sister was born eight years later. Mari immediately took charge of her troop of sister and she was the acknowledge leader as she led the way in all things for her little sisters. The family moved to Chicago when her father went there to attend seminary. He had a heart for Evangelism, which he passed on to his entire family. Her mother, Jean, taught the girls to sing and soon they delighted the occupants of rescue missions and rest homes for retirees with their songs. Mari's early life was spent in churches of the daughter of a pastor, where she attended a one-room school house and helped the younger children with their homework because there was only one teacher there for all the children. Often spam was the only food on the lunch menu, but Mari never complained and she enjoyed learning and helping others.
Mari's last move was to San Diego, California where she met the love of her life at the Bay Vista Beauty School. Michael fell in love at first sight and new that she would be his bride. Mari did take some convincing however. It took him four and a half years to talk her into marrying him. They too all the money they had on a Honeymoon to San Francisco and returned two days later, out of money, but full of memories. Five years later their first daughter, Shelby was born, then Travis and Todd and finally ten years later, after a family vote that was unanimous and Lindsay was born in 1984. Now the family was complete with six. Their Hair Salon business allowed them the freedom to travel with their children. They traveled extensively and made enough memories for two lifetimes.
Besides working, Mari was active in Church Ministries, but Mari wanted to give more and found her passion for a lifetime by sharing her love of Jesus with children. Maris started the Sonshine Haven for children in 1991. It began as an after-school program where children could feel loved, learn about Jesus and be taught valuable life skills in a warm and enjoyable setting. By the time Mari retired in 2019, she had an army of over 300 volunteers in 38 clubs reaching thousands of children each week. Next to the Lord and her family, Sonshine Haven was her proudest legacy and her work lives on because of her vision, hard work and dedication to these children. Because of her, many of them will carry on her evangelism to their family and so, Mari's dream will continue for future generations. Mari is proof that someone who is inspired to share the Bible with children can make a huge difference in many lives.
Mari is now home with her savior, but all who knew her were touched by her kindness and love for people. She was a living testament to God's word and she truly embodied Mark 16:15 "And then he told them, 'Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.'" She was fearless about approaching strangers to do this and more often than not left them better off for having met her. Mari was a remarkable person and if anyone I ever met was "heaven sent," I would have to say she was, for although she did not spend as much time here with her family and friends that we would have liked, she accomplished more in her lifetime, than most people do in two lifetimes. I was honored to have known her for who she was, how she lived her life to glorify God and how she showed people how much she loved them easily. The world would be a much better place with more people like Mari and even though we feel the loss of her here with us, we feel joy for her as she is now finally home.
Mari J. Rothman was born in Willmar Township, Minnesota on July 29, 1947 to Donald and Jean Sands. She was the first of three girls born within less than three years. The fourth sister was born eight years later. Mari immediately took charge of her troop of sister and she was the acknowledge leader as she led the way in all things for her little sisters. The family moved to Chicago when her father went there to attend seminary. He had a heart for Evangelism, which he passed on to his entire family. Her mother, Jean, taught the girls to sing and soon they delighted the occupants of rescue missions and rest homes for retirees with their songs. Mari's early life was spent in churches of the daughter of a pastor, where she attended a one-room school house and helped the younger children with their homework because there was only one teacher there for all the children. Often spam was the only food on the lunch menu, but Mari never complained and she enjoyed learning and helping others.
Mari's last move was to San Diego, California where she met the love of her life at the Bay Vista Beauty School. Michael fell in love at first sight and new that she would be his bride. Mari did take some convincing however. It took him four and a half years to talk her into marrying him. They too all the money they had on a Honeymoon to San Francisco and returned two days later, out of money, but full of memories. Five years later their first daughter, Shelby was born, then Travis and Todd and finally ten years later, after a family vote that was unanimous and Lindsay was born in 1984. Now the family was complete with six. Their Hair Salon business allowed them the freedom to travel with their children. They traveled extensively and made enough memories for two lifetimes.
Besides working, Mari was active in Church Ministries, but Mari wanted to give more and found her passion for a lifetime by sharing her love of Jesus with children. Maris started the Sonshine Haven for children in 1991. It began as an after-school program where children could feel loved, learn about Jesus and be taught valuable life skills in a warm and enjoyable setting. By the time Mari retired in 2019, she had an army of over 300 volunteers in 38 clubs reaching thousands of children each week. Next to the Lord and her family, Sonshine Haven was her proudest legacy and her work lives on because of her vision, hard work and dedication to these children. Because of her, many of them will carry on her evangelism to their family and so, Mari's dream will continue for future generations. Mari is proof that someone who is inspired to share the Bible with children can make a huge difference in many lives.
Mari is now home with her savior, but all who knew her were touched by her kindness and love for people. She was a living testament to God's word and she truly embodied Mark 16:15 "And then he told them, 'Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.'" She was fearless about approaching strangers to do this and more often than not left them better off for having met her. Mari was a remarkable person and if anyone I ever met was "heaven sent," I would have to say she was, for although she did not spend as much time here with her family and friends that we would have liked, she accomplished more in her lifetime, than most people do in two lifetimes. I was honored to have known her for who she was, how she lived her life to glorify God and how she showed people how much she loved them easily. The world would be a much better place with more people like Mari and even though we feel the loss of her here with us, we feel joy for her as she is now finally home.
Death is not the extinguishing of a light, but putting out the lamp (the vessel which held the light) because of the dawn of a new day. Mari's light burned really bright, like the exceptional Christian she was. She was truly a gift to all who knew her and her Sonshine charity was full of Mari's personal love for children and her inspirational Christianity she shared with them. Her charity was established to improve the lives of under-privileged children to bring them happiness and Christian teaching together in an educational setting. Her devotion to her "kids" was one of the highest priorities in her life along with her husband Michael and her family. She was a devout Christian who reached out to others in true, Christian fellowship, hoping to spread the good news. Above all else, Mari was a devoted mother and wife, a loving friend, a caring neighbor and one of the best human beings I have ever known. Our loss is definitely heaven's gain and I know soon, when I look up into the sky in the near future, there will be a rainbow there to remind me that the happiness she spread on earth is now being spread in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mari J. Rothman was born in Willmar Township, Minnesota on July 29, 1947 to Donald and Jean Sands. She was the first of three girls born within less than three years. The fourth sister was born eight years later. Mari immediately took charge of her troop of sister and she was the acknowledge leader as she led the way in all things for her little sisters. The family moved to Chicago when her father went there to attend seminary. He had a heart for Evangelism, which he passed on to his entire family. Her mother, Jean, taught the girls to sing and soon they delighted the occupants of rescue missions and rest homes for retirees with their songs. Mari's early life was spent in churches of the daughter of a pastor, where she attended a one-room school house and helped the younger children with their homework because there was only one teacher there for all the children. Often spam was the only food on the lunch menu, but Mari never complained and she enjoyed learning and helping others.
Mari's last move was to San Diego, California where she met the love of her life at the Bay Vista Beauty School. Michael fell in love at first sight and new that she would be his bride. Mari did take some convincing however. It took him four and a half years to talk her into marrying him. They too all the money they had on a Honeymoon to San Francisco and returned two days later, out of money, but full of memories. Five years later their first daughter, Shelby was born, then Travis and Todd and finally ten years later, after a family vote that was unanimous and Lindsay was born in 1984. Now the family was complete with six. Their Hair Salon business allowed them the freedom to travel with their children. They traveled extensively and made enough memories for two lifetimes.
Besides working, Mari was active in Church Ministries, but Mari wanted to give more and found her passion for a lifetime by sharing her love of Jesus with children. Maris started the Sonshine Haven for children in 1991. It began as an after-school program where children could feel loved, learn about Jesus and be taught valuable life skills in a warm and enjoyable setting. By the time Mari retired in 2019, she had an army of over 300 volunteers in 38 clubs reaching thousands of children each week. Next to the Lord and her family, Sonshine Haven was her proudest legacy and her work lives on because of her vision, hard work and dedication to these children. Because of her, many of them will carry on her evangelism to their family and so, Mari's dream will continue for future generations. Mari is proof that someone who is inspired to share the Bible with children can make a huge difference in many lives.
Mari is now home with her savior, but all who knew her were touched by her kindness and love for people. She was a living testament to God's word and she truly embodied Mark 16:15 "And then he told them, 'Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.'" She was fearless about approaching strangers to do this and more often than not left them better off for having met her. Mari was a remarkable person and if anyone I ever met was "heaven sent," I would have to say she was, for although she did not spend as much time here with her family and friends that we would have liked, she accomplished more in her lifetime, than most people do in two lifetimes. I was honored to have known her for who she was, how she lived her life to glorify God and how she showed people how much she loved them easily. The world would be a much better place with more people like Mari and even though we feel the loss of her here with us, we feel joy for her as she is now finally home.
Mari J. Rothman was born in Willmar Township, Minnesota on July 29, 1947 to Donald and Jean Sands. She was the first of three girls born within less than three years. The fourth sister was born eight years later. Mari immediately took charge of her troop of sister and she was the acknowledge leader as she led the way in all things for her little sisters. The family moved to Chicago when her father went there to attend seminary. He had a heart for Evangelism, which he passed on to his entire family. Her mother, Jean, taught the girls to sing and soon they delighted the occupants of rescue missions and rest homes for retirees with their songs. Mari's early life was spent in churches of the daughter of a pastor, where she attended a one-room school house and helped the younger children with their homework because there was only one teacher there for all the children. Often spam was the only food on the lunch menu, but Mari never complained and she enjoyed learning and helping others.
Mari's last move was to San Diego, California where she met the love of her life at the Bay Vista Beauty School. Michael fell in love at first sight and new that she would be his bride. Mari did take some convincing however. It took him four and a half years to talk her into marrying him. They too all the money they had on a Honeymoon to San Francisco and returned two days later, out of money, but full of memories. Five years later their first daughter, Shelby was born, then Travis and Todd and finally ten years later, after a family vote that was unanimous and Lindsay was born in 1984. Now the family was complete with six. Their Hair Salon business allowed them the freedom to travel with their children. They traveled extensively and made enough memories for two lifetimes.
Besides working, Mari was active in Church Ministries, but Mari wanted to give more and found her passion for a lifetime by sharing her love of Jesus with children. Maris started the Sonshine Haven for children in 1991. It began as an after-school program where children could feel loved, learn about Jesus and be taught valuable life skills in a warm and enjoyable setting. By the time Mari retired in 2019, she had an army of over 300 volunteers in 38 clubs reaching thousands of children each week. Next to the Lord and her family, Sonshine Haven was her proudest legacy and her work lives on because of her vision, hard work and dedication to these children. Because of her, many of them will carry on her evangelism to their family and so, Mari's dream will continue for future generations. Mari is proof that someone who is inspired to share the Bible with children can make a huge difference in many lives.
Mari is now home with her savior, but all who knew her were touched by her kindness and love for people. She was a living testament to God's word and she truly embodied Mark 16:15 "And then he told them, 'Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.'" She was fearless about approaching strangers to do this and more often than not left them better off for having met her. Mari was a remarkable person and if anyone I ever met was "heaven sent," I would have to say she was, for although she did not spend as much time here with her family and friends that we would have liked, she accomplished more in her lifetime, than most people do in two lifetimes. I was honored to have known her for who she was, how she lived her life to glorify God and how she showed people how much she loved them easily. The world would be a much better place with more people like Mari and even though we feel the loss of her here with us, we feel joy for her as she is now finally home.
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