Jeane DeVries

Jeane DeVries was the epitome of the word “nice.” She was simply a good and decent woman, a warm and welcoming lady who shared her limitless love with all those around her. She was a devoted Christian, and a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. More than anything, Jeane was a sweet lady, whose love lives on today in all who knew her.

Jeane’s story began on a warm summer day in 1917, in the bustling city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Those were tumultuous times in this country, as Americans finally entered the terrible fray of World War I, declaring war on Germany. The conflict affected every corner of America, from the farms and the fields, to the cities and the streets. Amid these anxious times, Albert and Beatrice (Kuipers) Rodenhouse found reason for hope, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl they named Bertha Jeane.

Jeane, as she would be called, was the first of the couple’s four children, and was later joined by her little brothers Albert, Bob and Ken in the family’s home. Her father was a hardworking homebuilder, and the family lived in a lovely rural setting in the town of Walker outside the city.

The family were faithful members of Broadway Christian Reformed Church, and Jeane attended Christian Schools, as well. Jeane started school at West Side Christian, where she met a young schoolmate named Andrew DeVries. Little did they know at the time what the future held for the two of them.

Though Jeane grew up during the tough times of the Great Depression, which affected the woman she became, she enjoyed her childhood. She was raised in the church, and in a very nurturing environment. She also learned to play the piano as a girl, which became a lifelong love for her.

Jeane went to Grand Rapids Christian High School, where she graduated from in 1935. Diploma in hand, she stayed at home, and began attending Calvin College and graduating from the Blodgett School of Nursing. It was her personal life that was about to get more interesting, however.

Jeane began dating Andrew, that schoolmate she met all those years before. He had grown into a handsome, strapping young man, and was quite taken with the beautiful Jeane. The happy young couple was soon separated by World War II, but they kept in contact through heartfelt letters. When Andrew, now an officer in the U.S. Army came home on leave from the Army, they wasted little time, and were quickly married at the Calvin Seminary before he returned to duty.

The new bride worked as a registered nurse while she awaited her husband’s safe arrival home, and when the war ended and Andrew returned, it was one of the happiest days of Jeane’s life. Many, many happy days were ahead with the newlyweds together again, though.

It wasn’t long before Jeane and Andrew became parents, and before they knew it, they were the proud parents of three fine children, Andy, Sharon and Donna. The birth of her first child was one of the proudest, happiest days of her whole life, and Jeane felt so blessed by becoming a mother, and blessed with a wonderful family.

When her children arrived, Jeane left her fulltime nursing job and became a “stay-at-home,” for the most part, but remained active as a private duty nurse the rest of her career, until she retired in the 1970s.

Of course, Jeane always put her family, faith and friendship first in her life, and was deeply devoted to each. She was a very caring, outgoing woman, with many, many good friends and wonderful friendships. She was the epitome of nice, after all, with the kind of warm, welcoming personality others were drawn to.

Jeane made many good friends at her church, where she was a very active member. She was also involved in the Christian Schools, as well as the PTA and many different church groups over the years. Later in life, she volunteered at the church as a money-counter each Sunday.

Following church, Jeane would have the whole family over for one of her incredible, home-cooked dinners, though she had but one requirement for attendance: you had to wear your Sunday best!

Jeane was a very vibrant woman, and had many hobbies and interests. She was a wonderful seamstress, and enjoyed sewing. She also loved to travel, and saw many amazing places with Andrew after they retired. They visited Europe, the Holy Land, and went on several cruises to tropical locations, as well. When the children were growing up, the family spent many wonderful vacations at Big Star Lake up north, and traveled down south to Florida, as well.

Jeane was the Queen of scrapbooking and would meticulously document every detail fo family happenings and excursions, a fact that only came to light in fairly recent discoveries by her children.

After she retired, Jeane and Andrew moved to the southeast side of town, and changed churches as a result. It was a big move for her in many ways, and she felt she really had expanded her horizons. Then in 1977, Jeane’s family threw her a wonderful, 60th birthday party, which was such a special time for her, when they made a big deal about their mother’s big milestone.

Jeane’s beloved husband Andrew died in 1989, which was a difficult loss for her. She persevered for many years, buoyed by her family and her faith, though eventually her health slowly declined.

Jeane's life ended peacefully on Monday, January 14, 2008, at the age of 90 as she finished her earthly race with her eyes fixed on Jesus.

Jeane was a wonderful woman who lived a blessed life, a life so full of fond memories. She was a sweet, loving woman, the epitome of nice, and the epitome of good. Jeane was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend, but more than anything, she was simply a good, Christian woman, and a great example to all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.

Jeane was preceded in death by her husband Andrew Sr. and brothers Albert, Ken and Robert Rodenhouse. She is survived by her children Andrew Jr. and Kay DeVries, Sharon Velthouse, all of Grand Rapids, Donna and Curt Vellenga of Parrish, FL; grandchildren, Jaime and Steve Ekkens, Julie DeVries, Andrew "Drew" J. DeVries III, Rob and Becky Velthouse, Emily and Mark Oliver, Craig and Amy Velthouse, Carmen and John Van Leeuwen, Nathanael and Cynthia Hoeksema, Chad and Ann Marie Hoeksema, Allison and Capt. Cory Scott and six great grandchildren. Also surviving are her sisters-in-law, Connie, Eleanor and Lois Rodenhouse, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Monroe (Bud) and Doris DeVries and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mrs. DeVries will be held Thursday at 2PM at the Raybrook Chapel of the Holland Home, 2121 Raybrook SE. Friends may meet the family Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes- Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr NW. and for one hour prior to the service at Raybrook Chapel on Thursday. Interment in Washington Park Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to the DeVries Family Scholarship Fund at Calvin College, 3201 Burton SE, 49546. To share a memory or photo of Jeane, make a memorial contribution or sign the online guestbook, please visit www.lifestorynet.com