Visitation
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM EST
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Van Strien Creston Chapel
1833 Plainfield Ave., N.E
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
(616) 361-2613
Driving Directions
Visitation
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EST
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Van Strien Creston Chapel
1833 Plainfield Ave., N.E
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
(616) 361-2613
Driving Directions
Service
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
2:00 PM EST
East Leonard Christian Reformed Church
1027 Leonard St. N.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
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.
Holland Home Fulton Manor Benevolent Fund
1450 E. Fulton St.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
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
Cornella “Connie” Brouwer was a woman of faith who found joy in the simple things whether it was a magnificent sunset, the intricate beauty of a flower, or the sound of water lapping along the shore. She had a quick wit and was never shy about expressing her opinion on any subject. Connie traveled to many destinations throughout her life but her favorite place to be was gathered with her family even if it was just for a Sunday dinner. She was a graceful woman with a quiet strength that combined with her enduring faith, sustained her through both the easy and hard times along her journey.
The year 1921 looked substantially different than the life we know today. The average annual salary was just over $1200, the unemployment rate was just over five percent, and women wore longer skirts and cloche hats. It was also during this year that Peter and Maria (Vander Henst) Meulendyk were celebrating the birth of their first child, Cornella, on August 26th in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Cornella was born at the family home on Cedar Street. Her parents were immigrants from the Netherlands who raised their children to embrace the Christian faith. Their family were members of Broadway Christian Reformed Church where Connie participated in church activities. She attended Creston Christian School, West Side Christian School and Grand Rapids Christian High School. Connie worked part-time at LaBotz Bakery as a teenager. Connie was social in school and established a close set of girlfriends. During high school a romance blossomed between her and a fellow classmate, Gene Brouwer, and they married shortly after Connie graduated in 1939 in Covington KY.
The newlyweds settled into an apartment on Cedar Street directly across from her parents’ home. While living there they were blessed with their first of four children, Genie, but their young family was soon separated as Gene enlisted in the Army to serve during WWII. During this time Connie cared for her young family, visited Gene whenever she could, and worked as a receptionist in a local dentist’s office. Three years after their first daughter was born, they were blessed with their second daughter, Karen and their family also moved into the vacant side of a duplex Connie’s parents owned. They lived next door to Connie’s parents for several years and also welcomed one more child, Brent.
After Gene returned from the service he worked at a furniture company. The family eventually moved to Coldbrook Street, Kurt was born soon after. They also became members of East Leonard Christian Reformed Church where they worshipped throughout the remainder of their lives. Connie was busy caring for her active family and was very involved in the lives of her children whether she was working as a room mother or serving lunch at their school. As a young mother Connie made many of her girls’ clothes including matching nightgowns with dolls that wore matching nightgowns for Christmas. She also worked for the Muscular Dystrophy Association where she was responsible for organizing the annual march. Connie later worked in Fulton Heights Food for Arnie’s Bakery where she loved interacting with the customers.
Although caring for her family and working kept her quite busy, Connie also pursued other interests like knitting baby sweaters, booties, hats, scarves and afghans for friends and family. She was always interested in city politics and often attended city council meetings where she was never shy about expressing her opinion. Connie and family loved road trips to tourist attractions and visits to family and army buddies. As the children got older, Connie and Gene traveled together and they even went to Cuba on one occasion where they visited Gene’s cousin who was working there. Connie and Gene were also members of the VFW and the local Teamsters Union where they had several friends. Connie enjoyed being social and looked forward to visiting with her friends often. She even kept in touch with some of her girlfriends from high school with whom she gathered for lunch or coffee on a monthly basis. Spending time with her family was always of great importance to Connie no matter what the occasion. As empty nesters, Gene and Connie spent time vacationing or spending time with family or friends. Some of the destinations were Florida, Texas, Arizona, San Francisco where they visited their son Kurt and also later Brent.
Big changes were in store for Connie with the death of her husband Gene in 1990 while they were in Gulf Shores. Although the days following his death were difficult, she continued on with the support of her family and friends, even remaining in her home. Connie continued to embrace life too taking many cruises, traveling to Europe with her daughter, and even touring Italy with a group of people she hardly knew. She eventually moved to an apartment at Lamberton Lake Apartments where she made many new friends and became actively involved in various activities. Additionally, Connie continued to find joy in the things she loved like trips to the beach, flowers of any kind, and a ride through the historic Heritage Hill district. Of course continuing to gather with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren for celebrations of any kind remained at the top of her list. About four years ago she moved into the Holland Home Fulton Manor.
Cornella “Connie” Brouwer was an extraordinary woman with a zest for life that graced everything she did, including daily exercise swim and frequent walks around Lamberton Lake and playing the piano as recently as a few weeks ago. It was easy to see that her family brought her the greatest joy and she considered herself privileged to care for her husband and children. Connie loved to have fun yet she found peace in being still, drinking in the splendor of the sunset as often as she could. She was a woman of faith whose abiding relationship with her Lord provided her with an inner strength and beauty that was unmatched. Connie will be dearly missed.
Cornella “Connie” R. Brouwer died on Friday October 30, 2009. Connie’s family includes her children: Genie (Phil) Reeves, Karen (Clyde) Walker, Brent (Catherine) Brouwer, Kurt (Claire) Brouwer; her grandchildren: Dawn (John) Walters, Janna (Bill) Renberg, Jill (Dan) Kersjes, Greg (Suzie) Reeves, Toni (Pat) White, Dean Walker, Mark Brouwer, Elijah Brouwer and Luke Brouwer; her great-grandchildren: Erin, Rhyan, Jayme, Stephanie (Derek), Andrew, Rachel, Joshua, Benjamin, Clarice, Christopher, Natalie, Ryan, Jaelynn, and Olivia; her great-great-grandson Emerson, her brother John (Dorothy) Meulendyk, her sister Laurie VanderSluis, her sister-in-law Lois DeBoe and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Eugene her brother and sister-in-law Peter and Luanne Meulendyk, her brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Jay VanderSluis, Robert and Marcia Brouwer, Bernard DeBoe; her nephews: Craig Meulendyk and Jon VanderSluis. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at the East Leonard Christian Reformed Church, 1027 Leonard St. N.E., with Rev. Terry Slachter officiating. Private interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Mrs. Brouwer reposes at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Van Strien-Creston – Grand Rapids, MI, 1833 Plainfield N.E. where relatives and friends are invited to meet her family Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a favorite memory or make a memorial contribution to Holland Home - Fulton Manor Benevolent Fund.