Diana Aldrink

Diana Aldrink leaves her family with a rich legacy of being a strong role model and an exceptionally committed person to the community she loved. Known for her sincere generosity and always putting others first, Diana would do anything to help others in need. She treasured the time she spent with her family and was immensely proud of every one of them. There is no doubt that she will be deeply missed by her many special friends and loved ones.

In the year 1943, the Pentagon was completed while at the same time America was rationing canned meats, butter, and cheese during challenging times. Amid WWII, William and Dolores (Jones) Randall welcomed home their newborn daughter, Diana Mae, on May 29th, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Born the oldest of four girls, her birth brought much hope and happiness to the family home.

Diana was raised by a hardworking family. Her father was active in the Navy during WWII and later worked for the Coast Guard as a Chief Electronic Technician. Her mother was a homemaker who later worked as a typist for Barnett’s furniture store in town. Diana and her sisters, Patricia, Phyllis, and Dolores, grew up learning the traditional roles and responsibilities around a family home. They were exceptionally close as siblings and remained close throughout their adult years. Holidays in the Randall family were always made to be special. Her mother loved to fix all the favorite Southern foods, including gravy, fried cauliflower, as well as apple and pecan pie. On the 4th of July, they liked to swim and boat in Lake Pontchartrain, followed by a picnic. Diana held fond memories of swimming in the Gulf whenever they visited their family in Biloxi, Mississippi. She especially enjoyed hanging out with their cousins while visiting their Aunt Francis and Uncle Joe in New Jersey. She also remembered watching her dad’s ship come into the harbor in New York as a child.

Most of her childhood was typical of the times, except for an occasional wild story. When she was three, her neighbor used yard clippers and cut off the tip of her finger. Her mother used Band-Aids to put it back together, and magically it healed! Their home at 508 LaBarre flooded when she was the tender age of four years old. There was never a dull moment. Diana attended Metairie Junior High during 1st through 8th grades before later transferring to East Jefferson High School. During her high school days, she enjoyed being a tumbler at football games. She also spent time swimming and bowling in between preparing for beauty pageants. After high school, Diana attended the School of Cosmetology in Grand Rapids and earned her certificate as a Licensed Cosmetologist. During these years, she continued her love of dancing and performing in local pageants. She was immensely talented and put her time and energy into taking advantage of opportunities.

Not to be forgotten was the meeting of the love of her life, Calvin Aldrink. They met at a party for Honeywell, where she was working as a secretary at the time. He was working in furniture sales, and they hit it off right from the start! After dating for about a year, they joined in marriage on June 8, 1972, at the local courthouse in New Orleans. The happy couple honeymooned along the lakeshore in Michigan. Her son, Byron, was seven years old at the time. Later, she went on to work for Leprino Foods. As a family, they toured the country visiting many national parks.

Always active and on the go, she and Cal settled into their home at 9976 42nd Avenue in Jenison, where she loved to garden and grow food. Diana also loved her rose garden. She also enjoyed playing racquetball, Backgammon, and photography. Over the years, she continued her dancing and started a collection of Pelicans. A highlight of her life was the many years she taught AWANA and took several mission trips all over the world. She loved serving the prison population, where her Southern charm always came to light. Diane was a faithful person who loved her Bible and enjoyed passing her beliefs to others. When it came to music, her favorite genres were the 1950s, jazz, as well as Shania Twain and Michael Bublé. Her southern heritage remained with her as she loved gumbo, seafood, and freshly baked sweets, especially her homemade breads and caramel custard. Described as a generous, kind, and helpful person, she and her son, Byron, honored her late husband, Cal’s, wishes by selling their Allendale property to Ottawa County Parks to be used as a public park. Those who know her, always found her easy to talk to and felt connected in her presence. Loving, selfless, and generous beyond measure, Diana leaves a rich collection of fond memories behind. May the warm memories of the years she shared with her family and friends endure in their hearts forevermore.

Diana Mae Aldrink, age 81 of Williamston, formerly Georgetown Twp, passed away on May 21, 2025. She was preceded in death by her husband, Calvin “Cal.”; infant son, Christopher Davis; and parents, William Edgar and Dolores Adeline (Jones) Randall. Diana is survived by her son, Byron (Kristin) Aldrink; grandchildren, Brianna, Christopher, and Danielle Aldrink; siblings Patricia (Donald) King, Phyllis Claffey, and Dee Dee (Tommy) Saladino; sister-in-law, Ethel Brunger; and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held at 3 PM on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Alt and Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. The family will receive visitors on Saturday, May 31st, from 4-7 PM at the funeral home and for one hour prior to the service on Sunday. Contributions in her memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Tunnel to Towers, and Prison Fellowship. Interment in Allendale Twp Cemetery. Please celebrate Diana’s life by sharing a favorite story or photo on her dedicated memory page at heritagelifestory.com