Obituary of Maryann Tosingilo Mbanza

Maryann Tosingilo Mbanza, age 32, of North Liberty, died October 11, 2024.  

Visitations will be held from 4-7 pm, Friday, November 8, 2024 at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service and services from 10 am till 12 Noon, Saturday, November 9, 2024 at The River Community Church (3001 Muscatine Avenue, Iowa City, IA).  Services on Saturday will be livestreamed.  

Maryann was born on 01/28/1992 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo and left to be with the Lord on 10/11/2024 in Iowa City, Iowa, USA. She was a beloved daughter and sister, a faithful wife, and a proud mother; she is survived by five siblings (four sisters and one brother) and four children (three girls and a boy), her father and mother (the Reverend Bolenga Chapain Tosingilo and Bonga Philomene Tosingilo), and grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Maryann was the second child of six children born to her parents.

Maryann grew up in the Christian home of her parents. During her childhood, her parents not only taught her the ways of the Lord, but also took her to church: when she was 3 years old, she said, “I will be a Maman Pastor when I grow up.” Later as an adult, Maryann made her decision of salvation: to receive, believe in, and follow our Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Savior and Lord.

Maryann was educated in many places: she went to Malula Preschool, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo in 1996; then after coming into the United States of America, she went to elementary school in New Orleans, Louisiana from 1999 to 2005; to Middle School in Dallas, Texas from 2005 to 2007 and then to Iowa City High School in Iowa City, Iowa, where she graduated in 2010. After that, she pursued studies at Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, up until her marriage in 2013.

In her last 10 years, she had four children, now aged 10, 8, 7 and 3. A dedicated mother and housewife while her husband was away working and attending Law school in Michigan, Maryann has been a great support for her family.

The journey of her life on earth is marked as a committed and faithful servant of God. At her local church, Maryann served the Lord Jesus as Women Ministry President and as a Church Board Member. She contributed to expanding God’s Kingdom on earth with her bold preaching and teaching of the gospel at every opportunity.

Maryann suffered from an illness from which, on October 11, 2024, God sovereignly decided to take her back home to His Kingdom in heaven. God has given and God has taken. Glory and honor be to Him.