Mary Jane Van Horn

Our mom, Mary Jane (Coyle) Van Horn, passed away peacefully on Monday June 15, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family. She was born on April 5, 1930, in Baltimore, Maryland, the eldest of seven children. She attended Catholic schools and entered the Mary Knoll Convent with the hope of becoming a nun to serve as a missionary. She realized that she had a different calling. She married William Lee Van Horn in 1951 and went on to have 14 children. Mom, cheerfully, navigated life with her dimpled smile and twinkling eyes. She was curious, principled, highly intelligent, independent, stubborn and above all else, selfless. She filled our lives daily, with simple joys and shared her creative solutions to ordinary problems. Mom loved history, football, Maryland crabs, shared laughter and a good cry. She drew strength from her faith and firmly believed in the power of prayer. She truly lived in the moment and never complained of being tired. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Lee Van Horn; her children, Thomas Peter Van Horn and Anne Marie Van Horn; and her grandson, Donald Joseph Plato. She is survived by 12 children, 48 grandchildren, 64 great-grandchildren, and 3 expected great grandchildren. Her surviving children are Mary Jane Van Horn, Joseph Michael “Joe” Van Horn, William Archie “Bill” Van Horn, Alice Kershaw McIntyre, Sharon Elizabeth Van Horn, Brian Martin Van Horn, Joan Eileen Van Horn, John Herbert Van Horn, Stephen Craig Van Horn, Kathleen Ann Porter, David Luis Van Horn, and Lisa Louise Weyne. Their spouses are Carol Ann Van Horn, Mark McIntyre, Juliet Van Horn, Crystal Van Horn, Cheryl Van Horn, Jana Van Horn, Greg Porter, Katherine Van Horn, and Adam Weyne. Her surviving grandchildren are: Monique Benjamin (Haleigh, Jack, and Thomas Benjamin); Serena Wilder (Cayden, Ashlynn, and Caleigh Wilder); Nichole Kavanaugh (Van, Max, and Liza Kavanaugh); Heather Van Horn (Royal Womack); Sean Van Horn (Jalynn and Judah Van Horn); Adam Van Horn (Asher and Axel Van Horn); Ryan Van Horn (Kyla and Amelia Van Horn); Elizabeth Namirr (Jackson, Ruby, Elijah, and Noah Namirr); William Nicholas Van Horn (Nessa, Kathryn, and Siena Van Horn); William Cross Van Horn; Bryan Van Horn; Katie Cocco (Naomi and Henry Cocco); Meagan Furgerson (Rose Furgerson and an expected daughter); Abigail McIntyre; Sarah Lerner; Naomi Lerner; Jonathan Van Horn (Kirk, Emma, and Ruby Van Horn); Justin Van Horn (Archer, Brian, and Brax Van Horn); Jordan Van Horn (Jordan “River” Van Horn Jr.); Caroline Poarch (Olivia, Jack, and Ryan Poarch); Thomas Plato (Lawson, Naya, and an expected son Tommy Hawk Plato); Donny Tommy Plato the son of the late Donald Joseph Plato; Royce Garvin, Tristan Garvin and Aubrielle Garvin; Ashley Curtis (Brayden, Jace, and Benjamin Curtis); William Lee Van Horn (Amelia, Ford, and Theo Van Horn); Eliza Hyatt (Louise, Jack, and Van Hyatt); Joshua Van Horn (Aspen and Willa Van Horn); Chelsey LaFevers; Natalie Lindley (Emma Grace, Luke, Olivia, and Eliza Lindley); Craig Van Horn; Caleb Van Horn (Henry and Holland Van Horn); Seth Van Horn; Travis “Trey” Porter; Amy Patterson (Joy Patterson and an expected son, Abraham Patterson); Walker Porter; Jessica Gill (Walter Gill); Trent Porter; Christine Van Horn (Jayden Van Horn); David Van Horn; Thomas Van Horn; Sarah Van Horn (Clayton Van Horn); Cherie Van Horn; Christian Weyne; Rachel Weyne; Emily Weyne; and Noah Weyne. On her 96th birthday, mom reminded us to not only, “smell the roses” but to daily “find” that rose to smell. Our mom will be missed and honored as we all journey forward. A graveside memorial will be held July 18th and a celebration of her life will be planned for 2027. II Timothy 4:7 - “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”

Tributes

Mary Jane Van Horn

April 5, 1930 - June 15, 2026