In loving memory of Mary Jo Eastom (Rietdorf). She was wife to Michael Eastom, a sister to 4 men and 7 women, a mother to 10 men and 2 women, grandma to 29 grandkids, great grandma to one and a friend to all.

She was a woman who knew that change in the world starts internally. It catches your family, which then spreads on to friends and society and only survives when founded on genuine Love as defined in 1 Corinthians chapter 4. She had no pre-requisite for who she loved and served. Mary Jo was a woman who understood expressed Love so thoroughly and genuinely that to be human was to be family. She was a prime example of how when we give our all for selfless Love; we will not run dry.

There has been and will continue to be many who come to see and know the complete Love of God through the seeds she planted. A seed of Love that persists through discomfort and insecurity breaking down the walls of self-focused pride to create relationships that cannot be shaken as they are founded on genuine mercy and grace, kindness, truth, patience, and respect. A Love that cultivates growth by protecting others through these things to lead each other to the all-encompassing peace and sense of fulfillment that comes from knowing God as He really is.

If Mary Jo were with us physically she’d want us to celebrate because each day is a blessing. She’d want everyone to be there and joke around, be too loud, cry, be who we are, and above all Love ourselves and one another in a compassionate, forgiving way through merciful truth where time is taken to build a foundation of Love before rushing through growth.

Services will be held at Blackhawk Christian Church at 7400 East State Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN on Saturday August 25th at 2:00 PM. Those who so desire may make memorial donations in memory of Mary Jo to NeighborLink Fort Wayne at 2826 S Calhoun St, Fort Wayne, IN or online through http://www.nlfw.org/donate.