Helen Oudendyk (Bazen)

Independent, strong, and generous, Helen Catherine Oudendyk lived a life rich in faith, family, and friends. Helen embodied the principles of her faith, welcoming each day as a gift and loving and serving others, especially in their time of need. Helen celebrated life's joys and faced its challenges with confidence and grace. In doing so, she proved a powerful role model for all who were blessed to know her. A devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, Helen will long be remembered and so dearly missed.

Despite the obvious gloom of the Great Depression, 1934 gave birth to many celebrated firsts. Flash Gordon made his debut while Fuji Photo Film first captured memories. The Three Stooges took center stage in their first short while the nation also met Donald Duck. The rays of hope peeked through the clouds of despair in America when unemployment decreased to 22%, marking the turning point of the Great Depression. Nowhere was there a greater sense of hope than in the hearts and home of Gerrit and Jennie (Wesseling) Pipe as they welcomed their daughter Helen on December 23, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The youngest of five, Helen enjoyed the good company of her older siblings, Tom, Sid, Gert, and Marian. Her father lunched at home and would mow the lawn while still wearing his tie. In her youth, she delivered newspapers, cared for her mother, worked at a pharmacy, and attended Christian schools. Helen proudly graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School with the class of 1953.

Helen had the good fortune of meeting her future husband, Richard Bazen, through mutual friends. They began dating and married in 1958 at Coldbrook Christian Reformed Church. Eventually moving to their home on Truxton, NE, Helen remained there for decades.

Delighted to welcome three sons to their family together, Fred, Mike, and Tom were the centers of Helen and Richard's world. Sadly, in 1970, Richard died from a brain aneurysm at the age of 36. Three days after he died, Helen gave birth to their daughter Cindy. With four children aged seven to newborn, Helen was grateful for the countless ways her church family helped her navigate the challenges of parenting alone. Having worked as a record keeper for the attorney, Mr. Davis, at his home, she accepted his request to work for him at his office as well. She would end up working for him for 50 years. Helen loved to work. She had a gift for numbers and did people's taxes on the side. As a result of her hard work, Helen was able to send her kids to Christian school and afford them all braces.

Fate gifted Helen another chance at love and partnership when she met Bill Oudendyk at church. Bill was about twenty years her senior, a widower with three grown children. The pair discovered a connection and married in 1972. The couple shared the next 15 years until Bill's death in 1987.

With signature grace and strength, Helen continued to embrace every moment as a gift. She liked traveling with her friends, Joan and Margaret, and wintering at her place in Bradenton, Florida. A longtime member of Coldbrook CRC, which later became Beckwith Hills CRC, Helen was a very active member of the fellowship. She served as a deacon, helped with the refugee program at church, and volunteered to hold worship services at Kent Community Hospital for many years with Dan, Keren, Mike, and Brandon. She was also a member of Altrusa, a group of servant leaders striving to improve their community. She loved old hymns; Great is Thy Faithfulness was her favorite.

Nothing gave Helen greater joy than being with family, raising her kids, having her son and grandson live with her, and caring for and watching her grandkids. Helen loved to cook and was naturally hospitable. She could cook for an army and enjoyed hosting people for home-cooked meals. Once a month, she hosted family for Sunday dinner with pot roast, potatoes, and the works. Helen always enjoyed sweets and chocolate; in later life, she liked to eat dessert before the meal.

In 1989, Helen moved to a condo, where she lived until she moved to a nursing home in 2019. Her final move was to Edison Christian Health Center, where she spent her final days.

As we celebrate Helen's beautiful life, may we find much comfort in our many treasured memories of the woman we were so blessed to know. May we also find comfort in carrying Helen's legacy of faith, hope, and love forward. In each moment we live wholeheartedly, generously open our hearts to others, listen to a favorite hymn, gather for a home-cooked meal, serve others, and indulge in a sweet treat, we keep Helen's memory alive and inspiring others as she so inspired each of us.

Helen (Bazen) Oudendyk, age 89, of Grand Rapids, passed away on August 14, 2024. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Richard Bazen and Bill Oudendyk; daughter-in-law, Roxanne Bazen; granddaughter, Nicole Bazen; brothers, Tom (Nila) and Sid Pipe; sister, Gert (Harry) Dunn; and brother-in-law, George Klaasen. Helen is survived by her children, Fred (Karen) Bazen, Mike Bazen, Tom (Kim) Bazen and Cindy (Blake) Ludwick; step-daughter, Marcia Swartz and her children, Sally, Sue, and Sheryl; grandchildren, Richard (Jennifer), Dan (Casey), Mike (Clare), Brandon, Hannah (Ben), Justin (Fran), Ryan, Patrick, Rachel (Chris), Austin, and Abby; and several great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her sister, Marian Klaasen; sister-in-law, Shirley Pipe and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held at 11 AM on August 21, 2024, at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Van Strien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield Ave NE. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 6-8 PM on Tuesday. Interment in Blythefield Memory Gardens. Contributions in her memory may be made to Edison Christian Health Center Foundation or Corewell Hospice. Please visit www.heritagelifestory.com to read Helen's life story, submit a memory or photo, or sign the guestbook.