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Elaine DeVries

May 1, 1931 - February 2, 2023
Grand Rapids, MI

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Visitation

Monday, February 6, 2023
12:00 PM EST
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

Monday, February 6, 2023
1:00 PM EST
Live Stream
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.

Hospice of Michigan-West Michigan-Big Rapids
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Elaine DeVries was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. An exceptional nurturer, she cherished her years as a mother and was delighted with the arrival of her grandchildren. She leaves behind a rich legacy of accepting all people with compassion. Her warm personality, genuine friendship, and loving ways will be deeply cherished by all who knew and loved her.

1931 saw crippling effects on the nation’s economy. Car manufacturers went out of business as people did not have the funds to purchase them. The severe drought that hit the Midwest caused food to be scarce and turned some areas into dust bowls. The good news of that year was that the famous mobster, Al Capone was convicted of tax fraud sending him to Alcatraz, a small community in Las Vegas legalized gambling, and the Empire State Building in New York was completed. Elaine Alice arrived the eighth child of ten children in the Schievink home on May 1st, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her birth was a joyful moment for her loving parents.

Raised in a large family, Elaine learned the importance of hard work at an early age. She grew up pitching in and working to help around the house. She and her siblings were known to learn the traditional duties in the kitchen. As a result, Elaine was a fabulous cook and baker throughout her life. The family was raised with a strong set of Christian values and attended Walker Christian Reformed Church. Elaine attended Zinser School through the 8th grade before entering the world of work. She and her sister Arlene were especially close during childhood and she remained her best friend throughout their lives. From the age of sixteen, she and Arlene supplemented the family income by cleaning houses. Elaine always loved sports, and enjoyed playing softball in her youth and well into her later adulthood.

Elaine’s life changed course when she met Herman DeVries on a blind date. Their mutual friend Frank Westveer set them up and the rest was history! While dating, Herman would spend time at her house with her parents. After Elaine would head to bed, Herman would stay and watch Big Time Wrestling with her mom! It took some time for Elaine to convince her parents that she wanted to marry Herman. Her mother confided to Elaine, that, “he’s too fussy for you!” But Herm persevered and they joined in marriage on February 29, 1952, at Walker Christian Reformed Church. They spent thirteen blissful days together visiting Chicago and the Cadillac area before he was shipped out for active duty in Germany during the Korean War. Being married on leap year day they always joked about how many anniversaries they actually had, but spent a remarkable seventy wonderful years as soul mates. During his deployment, Elaine moved back home with her parents and Arlene whose husband had been deployed to Korea. When Herman was later discharged, they made their first home on Diamond Street in an upstairs apartment in 1953.

Elaine and Herman enjoyed making plans for their future. In 1958 they built a house with Elaine’s dad’s help, on Faircrest Avenue NW in Standale where they remained for sixty-three years. The family then left Third Reformed Church to join Standale Reformed Church and were members for over 60 years. Although Elaine had dreamed of having nine children so she could field her own baseball team, she was delighted to mother three wonderful children; Terry, Lori, and Cheryl. A wonderful homemaker, their home became the favorite hang-out for many of the kids’ friends. There was surely always a hot meal or baked goods on the counter or leftover slices of freshly baked pies or cookies around. Elaine was a devoted mother who spent every ounce of energy on her growing kids. She loved attending their special events and encouraged them in their every endeavor along the way; she was their biggest cheerleader on the field or court! She instilled in her children the value of family. With many acts of love and large acts of sacrifice, Elaine always put her family first.

As a family, some of their favorite memories were spent visiting or hosting family. A highlight in their growing years was their memorable two-week camping tent trip around Lake Superior. Despite the fact that their campsite was visited by a skunk and was later flooded by a monsoon rain storm, they made the best of memories. However, Elaine was done with camping after that trip! After the kids were grown, Herman began work at Steelcase where he received much better pay and benefits. This allowed Elaine and Herman much more security and the ability to enjoy life but especially to spoil their grandchildren! They were always delighted to host large family get-togethers where Elaine cooked and prepared enough food to go around! These were the highlights of their later years. Any amount of time they were with their family, their hearts were content.

In addition to her family, Elaine kept close to her siblings and friends over the years. She met for many years with her five sisters for breakfast at Big Boy. She and Herman enjoyed a close group of friends that enjoyed taking turns hosting card games. Elaine also enjoyed going to the casinos to play slot machines with her sister Arlene. An avid fan of the Tigers, MSU, and later the Denver Broncos, when their daughter Lori was living in Colorado, Elaine enjoyed watching games on television. All in all, she lived her life fully always putting others first and being grateful for her many blessings. A loving, generous, and gentle soul, Elaine leaves behind a great legacy of loving unconditionally. She modeled a lifetime of sharing her Christian values and treating everyone with grace and kindness. May the memories she shared stay forever in the hearts of her loved ones and may they find great comfort in knowing they were loved beyond measure.

Mrs. Elaine Alice (Schievink) DeVries, aged 91, of Grand Rapids, MI, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, February 2, 2023. She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Herman B. DeVries; their children Terry (Becky) DeVries, Lori (Dean) Eldred, and Cheryl (Andre) Pierre, Jr.; and her grandchildren Mark DeVries, Matthew (Rachael) DeVries, Zachary (Ashley) Eldred, Emily (Tony) McLaughlin, Jared (Sadi) Eldred and Jenny Eldred, two great-grandchildren, her brother Bill Schievink and her brother-and sisters-in-law Gordon (Lynn) De Vries, Ruth De Vries and Kathy De Vries; and many nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by her parents George and Alice Schievink and her sisters and brothers; Joanne, Harland, Evelyn, Gertrude, Helen, George, Jr., Arlene, John, and brother-in-law Roger DeVries.

The family wishes to thank especially, Casey, Kim, and Sarah, from Hospice of Michigan West/Big Rapids for their dedicated and compassionate care of Elaine. Also, a special thank you to Eleanor for her kindness and loving care of Elaine and for keeping her engaged in a variety of activities and games.

Visitation is from noon to 1:00 pm on February 6, 2023, at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 with the funeral service beginning at 1:00 pm, followed by interment in Rosedale Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Michigan-West Michigan-Big Rapids; https://www.hom.org/donations.

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