Dorothy De Frell

Fun and Loving Mother, Dorothy De Frell, left a trail of smiling faces. She was blessed with 6 children. She showed the children how to work in the garden with growing beans, carrots, potatoes, sweet corn, and tomatoes and using them to make delicious meals and canning the extra for later use. Dorothy also took her children to go pick a variety of fruit, including apples, pears, apricots, peaches, and plums. All the children helped make strawberry jam and applesauce.

It was always important to take a drive through the country for a color tour. It was to show the children what the beauty the Lord had given us to enjoy.

Dorothy was born to Mannes and Reka Laarman on August 15, 1928. Dorothy was the youngest of 6. She had two brothers, Alvin and Henry and three sisters, Margaret, Anna, and Alberta. She loved them dearly. They lived on a farm where she and her sister helped their mother bake. Dorothy became a wonderful cook and would also help her uncle make food to serve to people at the Allegan Fair. She attended the Beechwood School on the Northside of Holland through the 8th grade.

Dorothy met her husband, Chester, on a blind date with friends. They hit it off right away. They were married on May 31, 1949, at the Women’s Literary Club, with family and friends surrounding them.

Starting their married life, they attended Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church. They started a family with the birth of a baby boy, Jerry Lee, who the Lord called home early in life. Next the Lord blessed them with a beautiful daughter, Diane Ruth and a second daughter, Janice Faye. Two years later a blessing of a baby boy, Jerry Marc and 13 months later a daughter, Dawn Sue was born. After a 6 year break, another special blessing, a baby boy named Calvin Jay. Dorothy and Chester thought it was important to send their children to the Christian Schools.

Dorothy also found time to help others out with daycare. She was great at sharing her love for children by helping those parents that needed to work outside the home.

The family did a yearly vacation to relax and make some fun memories together. Some of the fun places they went were Niagara Falls, Dumont Lake, Silver Lake, Mackinaw Bridge, Mackinaw Island, Old Faithful in Colorado, Cave City in Kentucky and many more places. Dorothy always encouraged her children to follow the maps and learn how to travel from place to place. They always played 1 or 2 rounds of the alphabet game by looking at signs. Dorothy and Chester spent 16 winters in Bradenton, FL. While they were there, they enjoyed the time with her sister, brother-in-law, and many friends.

Dorothy and Chester enjoyed going to their grandchildren’s sports activities or watching the grandchildren showing their 4-H steers at the local fairs. They were known to go out for a ride just to stop and say hi and hold the great-grandchildren. Diane, Janice, Jerry, Dawn, and Calvin were Blessed to have wonderful Christian parents that left them with wonderful memories.

She was preceded in death by her husband Chester in 2013 and a son Jerry Lee in 1952; surviving are her children, Diane and Don Baker of Holland, Janice De Frell of Holland, Jerry and Susan De Frell of West Olive, Dawn and Larry Brink of Holland, and Calvin and Ruby De Frell of Cedar Springs; grandchildren, Derrick and Meredith Baker, Thomas Baker, Jeremy and Brooke Brink, Jason and Michelle Brink, Jenna and Kyle Nagelkirk, Marc De Frell, Nickolas De Frell, and Brittany, Bert III and Tiffany Myers; great grandchildren, Owen Baker, Kent Baker, Drew Baker, Lyla Nagelkirk, Kaleb Brink, and Case Brink; in-laws, Connie Oetman of California, Jack and Gayle De Frell of Holland, and Elmer and Arlene De Frell of Holland; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be 1:00 pm Thursday at the Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church, 1 Graves Place, with the Rev. James Scholten officiating.

Burial will be in Pilgrim Home Cemetery.

Visitation will be 5-8 pm Wednesday at the Dykstra Funeral Home-Mulder Chapel, 188 West 32nd Street.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Holland or Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church Memorial Fund.