Mary Rose DeCoster, 97, of Rock Island, passed away in her home on December 31st, 2022. Private graveside services will be held at Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island.

She was born in Moline on May 4th, 1925, to Oscar and Octavie (Saelens) VanGheluwe. Her family moved to Detroit when she was young, where her mother met her future stepdad, Achiel Vande Keere, and the three of them traveled to the Midwest during the Depression under an assumed name before settling in Rock Island, where her parents owned Van's Place Tavern. Mary Rose attended Sacred Heart School and St. Joseph High School in Rock Island and graduated in 1942.  She married Cyriel DeCoster September 4th, 1948. She worked as a secretary at Hyman's Furniture in Rock Island until 1969, taking time off to birth five children and make two trips by boat to Belgium to visit family.

Cyriel and Mary Rose were active with the Boy Scouts of America, and she was a den mother for over fifteen years. She held various part-time jobs after leaving Hyman's, most recently waitressing at Bishop's Buffet at SouthPark Mall before finally retiring in 2012. She frequently volunteered at the Festival of Trees and was involved with Red Hat, quilting clubs, and several local church congregations. She enjoyed spending time with her family, square dancing, and reading, and was an avid collector of many things.

She is preceded in death by her mother, stepdad, father, husband, son, August, and grandsons, Casey and Kyle. She is survived by her children, Joseph (Millford, IL), Thomas (Milan), Edward (Rock Island), and Laura (Milan); grandchildren, Nate (Galesburg), Shane (Rock Island), Korry (Rock Island), Emily Martin (Rock Island), Johnna (Davenport), and Sarah (Davenport); and great-grandchildren, Clayton, Avery, Korry Jr, Blake, James, Raven, Joseph, Adalina, Star, and Scarlett.

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