Mrs. Bernice Van De Griend, age 96, of Hull, passed away on Friday, April 27, 2012, at the Pleasant Acres Care Center in Hull.
There will be a memorial service on Monday, April 30, at 11:30am, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Hull. The Rev. Carl Klompien will officiate. Interment will be prior to the service at the Hope Cemetery in Hull. There will be a prayer service on Monday, at 10:30am, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Hull.
Visitation will be after 4:00pm on Sunday, with the family present from 4:00pm to 6:00pm, at the funeral home.
Bernice Henrietta was born on August 1, 1915, at Hull, the daughter of Charles and Johanna (Hofmeyer) De Boer. She was raised on a farm southeast of Hull and graduated from the Hull High School, where she played softball and basketball.
On December 2, 1938, she married Andrew Van De Griend at Hull. They made their home and farmed ½ mile east and ¾ mile south of Hull, from 1942 to 1960. Bernice kept busy with five young children, helping her husband on the farm, canning many jars of fruits and vegetables from her large garden, and making delicious meals for her family. When her oldest children were in high school, the family moved to Sheldon, where they operated Andy’s Handy Grocery. In 1968, they moved to Hull, where they were custodians at the Western Christian High School, and spent many summers readying the facility for another school year.
In retirement, Andrew and Bernice continued to live in Hull. They enjoyed visiting their children, helping out where needed, taking care of the grandchildren, and getting the family together most Sundays for dinner. The grandchildren have fond memories of the good meals at Grandma and Grandpa’s house, eating apples from their tree, and playing together. Bernice will be remembered for her strength in caring for “Andy” after his stoke for 13 ½ years, until his death on May 3, 2000. He received the best care possible from his best friend. Her simple faith mandated that she care for her husband as long as she was able.
Bernice later moved to the Franken Manor in Sioux Center. More recently, she returned to Hull, where she became a resident of the Pleasant Acres.
She was currently a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Hull but had also been a member of the Christian Reformed Churches in Middleburg and Sheldon.
Mrs. Van De Griend enjoyed sewing and quilting, making bedspreads for her children and crib blankets for her grandchildren. She also liked watching sports.
Survivors include her five children and their spouses, Alvin and Marcia Van De Griend, of Visalia, California; Roger and Betty Van De Griend, of Hastings, Michigan; Irma and Bernard Fedders, of Orange City; the Rev. Kenneth and Wanda Van De Griend, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Lyle and Lois Van De Griend, of Orange City; eighteen grandchildren, Scott (Christine) Van De Griend, Penny Aberson, Tim (Desi) Van De Griend, Randy Van De Griend, Holly Yavanian, Russell (Janna) Van De Griend, Angela (Brad) Todd, Nicholas (Sonja) Van De Griend, Andy (Rebecca) Van De Griend, Kristen (Phil) Dorhout, Brenna (Mark) Walters, Tom (Cheryl) Van De Griend, Jeanie (Jim) Heethuis, Cory (Angela) Van De Griend, Michael (Jocelyn) Van De Griend, Rebecca (Neil) Graves, Philip (Kristin) Van De Griend, and Sarah (Dan) Bonnema; 45 great-grandchildren, and a great-great-granddaughter.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by five brothers and a sister, August, Clarence, Dowie, Gerrit, and Gilbert De Boer, and Ellen De Leeuw.
Bernice was the last surviving member of her generation in both the De Boer and Van De Griend families.
Memorials may be directed to Leadership Resources International, an organization for which Ken and Cory currently work, to train pastors in third world countries.
Online Expressions of Sympathy can be sent to: www.oolman.com
