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Betty Visser

August 19, 1933 - April 20, 2011
Lambertville, OH

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Visitation

Monday, April 25, 2011
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Visitation

Tuesday, April 26, 2011
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EDT
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Service

Tuesday, April 26, 2011
11:00 AM EDT
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

American Heart Association / American Stroke Association Memorial or Tribute Donation
PO Box 840692
Dallas, TX 75284-0692
(800) 242-8721
Web Site

National Kidney Assn. of Michigan
1169 Oak Valley Dr.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ball Park Floral
8 Valley Ave.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 459-3409
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Print

Betty Visser was a kindhearted woman with a heart of gold. She could seemingly accomplish anything she put her mind to, even when recurring health issues could have easily broken her spirit. A more devoted and tender wife, mother, and grandmother would be hard to find as Betty made it her life’s work to shower her family with love and unconditional support. Like a warm fire, she naturally drew others to her, and she never met a stranger. Although Betty called many places home along her life’s journey, her heart was overflowing with joy wherever her loved ones were near.

The thirties were some of the most trying times in our nation’s history due to the unrelenting grip of the Great Depression. The years 1932 and 1933 were some of the toughest years as the unemployment rate reached record highs at 25 percent. There were glimmers of hope here and there, however, and it was the birth of a healthy baby girl on August 19, 1933, that brought a young family from Murphy, North Carolina great joy. Betty Jane was welcomed into the arms of her loving parents, Donald and Emily (Ashe) Byrd. Tragedy struck early in Betty’s life with the death of her father when she was just two years old. From that point on, she was raised by both her mother and her grandmother.

When she was ten years old, Betty moved to Key West, Florida, where her mother was able to find work. She later moved to Ohio where she attended local schools. Betty loved sports and was a talented athlete who excelled in a variety of sports. She also excelled in her studies and was blessed with a beautiful singing voice. In fact, Betty was offered a singing scholarship to Ohio State University, but she was unable to accept it as she was needed in the workforce in order to help support her mother.

At the prompting of a friend, Betty moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, not long after graduating from high school in order to accept an employment offer. This proved to be a fateful move for Betty as she soon met the man with whom she would establish the family she treasured. His name was Richard Merdzinski and he was a soldier in the Army during the Korean Conflict. After dating for a time, the couple married in May of 1951, after Betty became a Catholic. They exchanged their vows at Richard’s home church, St. Isadore Catholic Church in Grand Rapids.

The newlyweds first settled into an apartment on Crescent NE and later bought a home on Mayfield NE. Together they were blessed with four children: Richard, Elizabeth, Michele, and MaryJo. The family enjoyed camping during the summer and regular Sunday drives to Reed’s Lake or the beach along the eastern shores of Lake Michigan. In 1973 they moved from their home on Mayfield to an older home they renovated on Fulton NE. Betty fully immersed herself into caring for her children and was actively involved in their schoolwork and extracurricular activities. Although she and Richard divorced in 1975, Betty was forever grateful for the children they shared together.

Throughout her life Betty was a woman of many interests. She loved big band music and the old crooners like Frank Sinatra. She enjoyed the holidays for cooking and entertaining and was a proud member of the ladies' Red Hat Society. She also loved to plant flowers and care for her yard.

Betty found love again in a man named Gil Visser. She and Gil made a great pair as he was a real estate broker and she was a realtor.

Betty read everything she could about furniture and antiques as well as glassware. She could spot treasures with ease, but also knew how to separate pieces of interest from things better left alone. She had her own estate business in Michigan and antique stores in Florida and North Carolina. She and Gil loved dancing together and socializing with their many friends.

Eventually, the couple sold the home on Fulton and moved to Cross Creek Condominiums. Also during this time, they had a cottage on Meyers Lake in Rockford, Michigan They soon purchased another home on the same lake and lived there for a few years before retiring to St. Pete's Beach, Florida, where they spent the next ten years. In the fall of 2000, Betty and Gil moved to Hayesville, North Carolina, where they lived for nine years until his death, after 33 years of marriage.

As Betty embraced the sunset of her life, she continued to make the most of the days she was given. She remained in North Carolina for about six months following Gil’s death, but she then moved to Lambertville, Michigan, in order to be closer to her children. The last few years found Betty struggling with health issues such as several mini strokes, kidney problems, blood pressure issues, and heart problems that led to bypass surgery. She never let these challenges get the best of her, however, and her quiet strength and unwavering determination always got her back on the road to recovery. It was a fall that brought Betty to a Toledo Hospital although tests revealed there were deeper issues going on. As she was being prepared for surgery, she suffered a fatal heart attack and drew her last breath.

In everything she did, Betty Visser carried herself with unconditional love and support for those around her. She was always willing to help someone in need as thinking of others came naturally for her. Betty adored her family and was a loyal friend to so many whose lives were greatly enriched for having known her. Life will never be the same without Betty here, but her memory will continue to live on in the hearts and lives of those she leaves behind.

Betty J. Visser of Lambertville, MI, formerly of Grand Rapids MI, St. Pete's Beach, FL and Clay County, NC, died on Wednesday afternoon, April 20, 2011. Betty’s family includes her children, Richard (Cathy) Merdzinski, Elizabeth (Keith) Tyrell, Michele (Allen) Bobich, MaryJo (Michael) Evans; her step children, Dennis (Peggy) Visser, Rick (Norma) Visser, Craig Visser, Nancy (Vic) Hughes; 11 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, several step-grandchildren and step-great grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and friends. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Gil Visser. A service to celebrate her life will be held on Tuesday morning at 11:00 a.m. at Heritage Life Story Funeral home – Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. Relatives and friends may meet her family at the funeral home on Monday from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., and again on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until the service begins. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or make a memorial contribution to Michigan Heart Association or the Kidney Foundation of MI.

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