Laura Jelsma

Laura Jelsma lived a long and fulfilling life rich with diverse experiences, but it was her abiding faith that offered her the strength, comfort, and immeasurable joy that she experienced every day.

It was during the “Roaring Twenties” that the family of Frank and Veronica (Szejda) Zawacki welcomed the birth their daughter, Laura, on January 19, 1920. She was the fifth of seven children in her family, and her father supported his family as a tailor. Tragedy struck early in Laura’s family with the death of her mother when Laura was just seven.

Life was forever changed for Laura when she was set up on a blind date with a young man named Miner Jelsma through some friends. They dated for over a year and were married in September of 1940 at St. Isidore Catholic Church.

They lived with Laura’s sister Helen for a time and then with Miner’s sister Tressa. They later bought a home of their own on Arianna NW where she lived for over 30 years. After they had been married for ten years, they were thrilled to welcome daughters Carol and Cheryl into their hearts and home. Their family enjoyed fun-filled vacations to destinations such as Traverse City and Leelanau in northern Michigan. They were also members of St. James Parish, regularly attending Sunday mass together.

Throughout her life, Laura enjoyed a variety of interests. She was very crafty with her hands, very talented at sketching and drawing, knitting, crocheting, and sewing. Laura read novels of all kinds and enjoyed music, especially big band music. She liked watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy as well as golf and basketball on television. Laura was devout in her faith and frequently prayed the Rosary.

Many of the things that Laura enjoyed involved the people she treasured. She and Miner were very social, spending time with family at weekend dances and clubs. They also enjoyed fishing with friends regularly. Laura was especially close to her sisters, and they enjoyed doing many things together, too. When she was blessed with grandchildren, she attended as many of their school functions as she could. No matter what they had planned, the times Laura spent with her grandchildren were always among her most treasured.

When her husband developed colon cancer, Laura tenderly cared for him until his death in 1978. She drew strength from both her faith and family during the days that followed, and she remained in their home for 10 years until she went to live with their daughter Cheryl. Laura remained socially active and drove until she was 89 years old.

Laura Jelsma was a dear woman to so many who will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her.

Laura Jelsma died on April 21, 2010. Laura’s family includes her children, Carol Powell, Cheryl (Thomas) Taylor; her grandchildren, Lori (Tim) Impellezeri, Mike (Lisa) Taylor, Tom (Merri) Taylor, James Taylor, Comp Powell, Marcie Powell; her great- grandchildren, Kayla and Ashley Impellezeri, Aidin and Carly Taylor; sister-in-law, Nell Zaremba; many nieces, nephews and friends. Laura was preceded in death by her husband, Miner, her 4 sisters and 2 brothers. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. Visit with Laura’s family and friends at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes – Alt & Shawmut – Grand Rapids, MI on Thursday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. with a vigil service at 7:00 p.m., and again at the church on Friday from 10:00 am until the Mass begins. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or make a memorial contribution to Spectrum Health Hospice.