De Vries, Berniece (Boersma)

DE VRIES, BOERSMA, WIELINGA

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/18/2005 at 19:55:56

Funeral services for Berniece De Vries, 83, of Pella were held January 18 at the Faith Christian Reformed Church in Pella, the Rev. Sheldon Starkenburg officiated and Dutch Psalm reader Mr. Thomas De Vries. Music was provided by organist Mrs. Carol Olson, soloist Mr. Larry Rozenboom, and a recorded selection by Jodi Miller and Jennifer Bruxvoort. A poem was read by Heather Van Waardhuizen. Rev. Kenneth Schepel presided over the family prayer service.

Interment was at Oakwood Cemetery in Pella. Casket bearers were Grandsons - Randy Van Essen, Vance De Vries, Doug Roozeboom, Michael Roozeboom, Jeff Bruxvoort, Jamie Bruxvoort, Scott Huisman and Matthew De Vries.

Berniece Boersma was born on December 29,1919. She was one of four children that were born to Kornelius and Grietje Wielinga Boersma in Suawoude, Friesland, the Netherlands. Berniece received a grade school education in Friesland.

On May 21, 1942 she was united in marriage with Jacob De Vries, a son of Pieter F. and Klaske Bouma De Vries. Berniece and Jacob became the parents of two children, Gerdena and Peter, while living in Akkerwoude.

On January 20, 1948 they left for the United States by boat to make their residence. They settled 10 miles north of Pella where their five children were born: Kathy, Cornelius who died in infancy on March 2, 1952, Marlene, Cornelia and Johnny. They continued to live and farm north of Pella until August of 1971 when they moved into Pella.

On January 20, 1983 Jacob passed away following a very brief illness at the age of 63 years, exactly 35 years from the day he and Berniece departed from the Netherlands.

Following his death, Berniece continued living in their home for 14 years and in August of 1997 became a resident at the Pella Regional Health Center. She was cared for there in the Long Term Care Unit the remainder of her life where she passed away on Tuesday morning, January 14. She had just observed her 83rd birthday 16 days previously.

She was a former member of the Sully Christian Reformed Church in Sully and at the time of her death was a member of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella.

She is survived by her five children and their spouses: Gerdena Swenson of Story City; Kathy and Marvin Roozeboom of Pella; Marlene and Roger Bruxvoort of Reasnor; Cornelia and Loren Vander Wilt of Pella; and Johnny De Vries of Oskaloosa. Berniece leaves one sister, Metje (Jaap) Inia and a sister-in-law, Pietje (Hart) Boersma both living in the Netherlands; and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Tom and Viola De Vries of Pella.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jacob and her infant son, Cornelius; by her son Peter De Vries in November of 2000; as well as her parents, Kornelius and Grietje Boersma, an infant sister, Boukje Boersma, her brother, Hart Boersma and her brother-in-law, Jaap Inia, all of whom died in the Netherlands.

Arrangements were handled by Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella.

Memorials may be made to the Willing Workers Society of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church, the Pella Christian Grade School or the Pella Christian High School in Pella.

The Pella Chronicle, January 24, 2003