Alberta DeVries

Alberta E. DeVries had a smile that could light up a room. She had a way about her that made others feel warm and at ease. She had experienced great joy and great loss, and had the ability to empathize with both. Her outgoing personality and delightful smile helped to win many friends. She saw remarkable changes take place in America during her lifetime and had much to offer from the things she had observed.

On June 7, 1912, Frank Roberson and Jennie Donker added a sweet baby girl, Alberta, to their home. She was the second of five children. Her father sold encyclopedias door to door. Her mother was a teacher at Westside Christian School. When Alberta was five years old, the family moved to Detroit in search of employment. As a child she often amused herself by playing jacks or jumping rope. Her parents did not have to discipline her very often. She was good natured and obedient, but she always said with a smile that she just never got caught.

Alberta would grow up during some of the most challenging and exciting times of the twentieth century. She would live through both world wars, the Roaring 20s, and the Great Depression. As a shy youngster, she was quite overwhelmed by the exuberance of the neighborhood on Armistice Day in 1918, and retained a clear recollection of the streets being flooded with people celebrating the end of World War I. It was so crowded and active that her mother, worried for the safety of the children, made them come inside the house. Like many across the nation, the Roberson's experienced their share of financial struggles. Later the family moved back to Grand Rapids and bought a home on Hamilton Street NW. Her family attended Broadway Avenue Christian Reformed Church. Alberta was a student at West Leonard School through the eighth grade and had perfect attendance. She went on to attend Davenport Business School. Her favorite subjects were typing and shorthand. She would use the skills she learned there in a variety of ways through the years. Alberta took in ironing at home to help out with her family's finances.

Her life took an unexpected and interesting turn one day while she was walking down Leonard Street. An acquaintance of hers, Marinus Matthysse, was out with a friend, Art DeVries, and introduced him to Alberta. The two of them ended up dating for eight years and were eventually married on December 5, 1936. On that snowy winter day, they exchanged vows at her parents' home, led by Reverend A.J. Kuiper. As was not uncommon during that time, they did not travel on a honeymoon.

Arthur worked as a huckster selling fresh produce from the farmers' market to local grocers. He was a member of Fairview Reformed Church. After they were married, Alberta joined his church. Their first home was at 940 Broadway in an upstairs apartment. They later bought a home on 2506 Day Avenue NW where Alberta lived until she had a stroke in 1999. She then moved into the Christian Rest Home where she lived for four years.

Alberta learned to drive during the 1930s, just in time to be able to transport their children. Art and Alberta would have four daughters. Ardith, Joyce, Laverne, and Sheryl brought great joy to their household and they enjoyed their time together as a family. They would often rent cottages for vacations and on Saturday nights they would all go out for dinner together. Art loved hunting and fishing, and being the supportive wife she was, Alberta would help him pack his clothing and food and then send him off. She would also cook the game he brought home, preparing rabbit, venison, pheasant, and fish. They shared many wonderful memories as a family, but they also endured tremendous heartache. On March 19, 1955, Alberta lost her beloved Art and precious daughter Sheryl in a boating accident on the Grand River in North Park.

Alberta used her secretarial skills at Luce Furniture Co. where she worked as secretary to the president. She was also employed at Zylstra Insurance Co., and Udell Refrigeration and National Union Christian Schools. She served as secretary for Reverend Ralph Robrahn of Fairview Reformed Church and also did some work for the rabbi at the Congregation Ahavas Israel.

Road trips provided Alberta with many memories, but not necessarily positive ones. On one such excursion, she traveled with two of her grandchildren and her daughter Laverne to Gary, Indiana. One of the children had seen a Trip planner that showed an amusement park there and it looked like fun. To their great disappointed, upon arriving they discovered that the park had been abandoned for years. On another journey she joined Laverne and her family on a trip to Key Largo, Florida, to visit Ardith and Mike. When they finally arrived, Alberta opened the door, got out of the car, and proclaimed, "I'll never come here again." She never did.

Alberta loved reading Reader's Digest and watching Matlock. She enjoyed walking the pier in Grand Haven and seeing her favorite color, pink, filling the sky at sunset. She liked Chinese food, strawberry shortcake, and chocolate turtles. The Depression taught her the truth of the proverb "Waste not, want not," and she kept everything in case it might prove useful later. She enjoyed singing "Mares Eat Oats" for her grandchildren, and one of the greatest thrills of her life was when she held her twin great grandsons for the first time. She loved Christmas, treasuring the time when the family was together.

Alberta passed away Tuesday, November 25, 2003, at the Christian Rest Home. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur DeVries; two daughters, Sheryl DeVries and Joyce Cox; three sisters, Edith, Mabel and Jean; and a brother, Lawrence. She was ninety-one.

Alberta is survived by her children, Ardith (Mike) Matthysse of Sandy Pines, Michigan, and Lake Placid, Florida, and Laverne (Robert) Wells of Walker, Michigan; nine grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Theresa DeVries, Eleanor (George) Teitsma, and Lucille DeVries; brother-in-law, Ray VanTuinen; several nieces and nephews; and many friends.

The service to celebrate the life of Alberta will be held on Friday, November 28, at 11:00 AM at Orchard Hill Reformed Church, 1465 Four Mile Road NW, between Alpine and Bristol NW. Relatives and friends are invited to meet with her family at Van't Hof Chapel, 851 Leonard St. NW, on Wednesday, November 26, from 7-9 PM, Thursday, November 27, from 7-9 PM, and at Orchard Hill Reformed Church on Friday from 10 AM until the time of the service. Burial will be held in Rosedale Cemetery. To read Alberta's complete life story, share a memory, send flowers, or make a memorial contribution to either the Christian Rest Home or the Orchard Hill Reformed Church Building Fund, please visit her personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com.

Alberta's family would like to thank the staff of the Christian Rest Home and the staff of Hospice of Michigan for the loving care given to their mother.

Alberta will be greatly missed, but the memory of her delightful smile will continue to warm the hearts of all who knew her.

"Don't run through life so fast That you forget not only where you've been,but also where you're going.Life is not a race,But a journey to be savoredEach step of the way." - Nancye Sims