Jeannette Palma

JEANNETTE LILLIAN FYNEWEVER PALMA

Jeannette Lillian Fynewever Palma was a woman of faith and faithfulness who devoted her life to God, family, and community.

Jeannette Palma was born at the height of the industrial age when Henry Ford produced the first affordable car ($700) and the Wright Brothers made their historic flight at Kitty Hawk. Yet a more exciting event for Albert and Alberdena (TerAvest) Fynewever of Coopersville, Michigan was the birth of their third child, Jeannette, on April 27, 1907. Jeannette grew up in the security of a family who valued education, hard work, and dedication to God.

Jeannette attended the one-room Boody School in Coopersville and then went on to Coopersville High School. She graduated at the age of 15, having passed the Ottawa County Promotion Tests. Jeannette was an alert student who had a particular aptitude for math, yet her success in passing the tests could also be attributed to the one-room school house: she listened and learned as the teacher gave lessons to the older children. Being an eager student, Jeannette also learned to play the piano and violin, skills that brought beauty to her life and home.

Following her graduation from high school, Jeannette attended college for a brief time. But she soon grew homesick and returned to the farm to help her parents. Hard work, worship, and involvement in her church youth group were activities that were a regular part of Jeannette's life. So it was not at all unusual that Jeannette would meet a young man at church. It was at the Allendale Reformed Church youth group meeting that Jeannette met Jay Palma. This was the perfect setting from them to know each other as friends before their relationship grew into love. They decided to marry on June 27, 1929, and the wedding took place in the home of Jeannette's parents. Within months the US Stock Market crashed and The Great Depression was upon them. These were tough times for any family, yet Jeannette and Jay's love of each other and their trust in the goodness of God never diminished.

In 1934, Jeannette and Jay began their family with the birth of Robert James, and eight years later their daughter Sandra Mae was born. For the next 19 years, Jeannette devoted her energies to her husband, children, homemaking and service to Broadway Christian Reformed Church and West Side Christian School . She was treasurer of the church's Anna Circle and accompanist for the women's trio. Jeannette's devotion to God, her family, and her faith community characterize the beloved person she was.

During the time she was raising her children, Jeannette also cultivated her desire to work outside the home. She helped with various elections and in the office at West Side Christian School, she typed her church's bulletin and assisted in a physician's office part time. Then in 1961, her dear husband Jay passed away, and Jeannette was ushered into a new phase of life. Now on her own, Jeannette began a career as a medical assistant. It was a good fit for Jeannette, and she enjoyed her work right up to retirement in 1980. In retirement, Jeannette continued to engage in the activities she enjoyed throughout her life: travel, reading, knitting, doing crossword puzzles, attending musical concerts, and meeting friends for coffee. Jeannette lived a life of blessing.

Jeannette was blessed to live in her home on Powers Avenue for over fifty years. When she sold it in 1990, she made her home in Edison Manor for eight years before moving into the assisted living complex in 1998. Later that year, Jeannette entered the Christian Rest Home where she lived until her translation from this earthly life into her eternal home.

Mrs. Jeannette L. Palma, aged 98 of Grand Rapids passed away Sunday November 6, 2005. She was preceded in death by her husband Jay M. Palma in 1961 and her granddaughter Fern D. Palma in 2003. Surviving are her children: Dr. Robert J. Palma and wife Mary Toppen-Palma of Holland, Sandra M. and husband Dr. Raymond N. Kieft of Estes Park CO, 8 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, her sister-in-law Ida Johnson of Grand Rapids and nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 P.M. at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, Van't Hof Chapel, 851 Leonard with Rev. Ronald Baker of Westview Christian Reformed Church officiating. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery . Mrs. Palma reposes at the funeral chapel where relatives and friends may meet the family Friday from 12:30 P.M. until the time of the funeral service. For those who wish, memorial contributions to the Christian Rest Home Foundation would be appreciated. Please go to www.lifestorynet.com to read Jeannette's life story, leave a memory, or sign the online register book.