Rose Albers

Rose was the oldest of 3 children born to Anne (Nuismer) and Calvin Tardiff on November 29, 1931. Rose’s mom was of Dutch heritage and her father was a World War I veteran of French/English descent. Rose Marie was named after a beloved sister of her mom who passed away only in her 20’s.

Rose’s childhood life was quite challenging as she was a child of the great depression. Her simple family home was on Lake Macatawa. Life was more difficult as common household chores had to be done without the modern conveniences we enjoy today. Dishes were washed outside, cooking was more time consuming, and milk was delivered and placed in a chute attached to the house. Rose and her two younger brothers Ray and Cal enjoyed time playing in the lake, walks along a long sandbar and bike riding on gravel roads. Rose started school at just 4 years old at Beechwood School just down the road from home. She found attending school enjoyable with the exception of second grade where she did not like her teacher. This would prove to be quite ironic as Rose later went on to become a second grade teacher. It is during her challenging early years where Rose developed her characteristic fierce inner strength and positive outlook which became the hallmark of her life.

In the early 1930’s her father and uncle built and operated West Michigan Laundry which eventually employed many family members. At the age of 12 Rose became the official babysitter for her two younger brothers to allow her mom to spend more time working at the family business. When Rose was 15 she too began to work at the laundry where her job was to fold clothes coming out of the tumbler. The family business was where Rose would later work to earn enough money to cover her expenses while attending Hope College.

It was during her younger years that Rose developed a very strong sense of faith which gave her great joy and comfort throughout her life. Her faith journey began in the Episcopalian Church she attended with her mom. Rose really enjoyed singing and was confirmed at age 11. She would later become a devout member of the Christ Memorial Church which brought her much joy and fellowship.

Transition to Junior High and High School was initially quite an adjustment for Rose. She found herself in a much bigger school, very different from the one classroom school she was used to. It was here that she found a fun outlet in athletics which she was quite good at. So good, in fact, that in later years she would recall that she was such a good baseball player that she was asked to play on the boy’s team! In later years her athleticism would serve her well as she became an avid golfer.

Despite the initial rough adjustment to high school, this would be the setting in which Rose would meet the love of her life. During her junior year, a mutual friend introduced her to a senior by the name of Robert Albers. Their love story began with a date during tulip time

1946/1947. Over the ensuing year, dating for Rose and Bob proved to be a bit of a challenge. Bob began to attend Hope College with plans to attend medical school upon graduation. Always a dedicated and determined student, this left little time for dating. Meanwhile, Rose was busy breaking new ground by becoming the first in her family to attend College. She joined Bob at Hope College and it was during those years Rose and Bob became engaged. While Bob began to attend U of M in Ann Arbor, Rose began her first teaching job as a second grade teacher at Mapleview School. After two years at U of M, the couple finally married and settled in a small Ann Arbor apartment. Rose began teaching second grade again this time in Ypsilanti while Bob studied and applied for internships.

Upon Bob’s graduation, the couple moved to Grand Rapids for Bob’s internship at St. Mary’s Hospital. Thus began a very happy time in her life as the two started their family in 1956 with the birth of their son Michael Paul. Laurel Ann followed in 1958 and Mark Robert completed the family in 1962. It is during this time as the wife of an intern that Rose was invited to join the Library Guild which was comprised of doctor’s wives and supported by St. Mary’s Hospital. This sparked a devotion to volunteer work which would become a tremendous source of joy for Rose throughout her life.

As a young mother, Rose became quite involved with the children activities becoming both a cub scout and campfire girl leader. Rose would fondly recall years later making Indian moccasins and piling 10 cub scouts in her station wagon to visit the fire department. Police department, and the city water/sewer system facility. PTA events were also always on the agenda.

The young family spent eleven happy years living on Ruth Avenue in Holland. Eventually, a new home was built on Heather Drive which Rose took great delight in decorating with a Mediterranean flair. Eventually with the children grown, Rose and Bob settled in their final home on South Shore Drive with a beautiful, breathtaking view of Lake Macatawa.

Rose, Bob and their children looked quite forward to summer trips to Glen Lake where they enjoyed the beach, climbing Sleeping Bear sand dunes, bike riding, and hunting for Petoskey stones. While Bob enjoyed sailing, Rose much preferred being on deck, “feeling the wind and speed” . Skiing also became a family favorite with Rose declaring herself “not very good”. Rose had a signature ski move dubbed the “snowplow” where she would ski sideways to prevent herself from going too fast. She could often be found in the ski lodge reading, then meeting others for lunch.

Golf became a favorite sport for Rose and soon thereafter Bob. The couple spent many happy times enjoying the sport together and with their wide circle of friends. Besides golf, Rose and Bob were active members of Bridge Club and even went on to start a dinner Bridge Group. A very active couple, Rose and Bob took dancing lessons with several of their friends and made

many fond memories. Participating in sport, church, school and clubs gave Rose the opportunity to develop deep and meaningful friendships with a wide range of people, many of which lasted a lifetime.

A true passion of Rose’s was participating in the various clubs to which she belonged. Over the years, she eventually served as president of both the Garden and Lit Club. Soon after joining Garden Club, Rose entered her first garden show and won her first blue ribbon. To perfect her craft she attended flower show school in Lansing and had to do continued education to keep her certificates valid. All of this lead to her becoming a master judge, an achievement she recalled with great pride. Her forty years of labor can still be seen today as the majority of the Garden Club funds were used to improve landscapes in Holland at Centennial Park, Windmill Island, Kollen Park and Holland Hospital.

At the age of 52, Rose and Bob became grandparents when Mike and Kathy blessed them with the birth of their first grandchild Martha. Grandson Mitch arrived just a few years later. Rose enjoyed babysitting when Mike and Kathy went on vacation. Their third grandchild, Jillian, Mark’s daughter was born in 1996. Since they lived in Holland, Jillian was able to spend many weekends with her grandparents, creating beautiful memories and a loving bond. Later in life, Rose was further blessed when Martha blessed her with a great-granddaughter Emma, born on Rose’s birthday and a great-grandson, Leroy soon followed. The family grew even more with Jillian’s four children, Aria, Tinsley, Grayson and baby Kohen making Rose a proud great-grandmother of 7.

After a brief illness, Bob Albers sadly passed away on January 9, 2011. This loss left a tremendous void in Rose’s life. Rose leaned on her faith, family, loving circle of friends and her characteristic inner strength to support her through her loss. Bob remained very near to her heart with Rose often saying that “not a day goes by that she doesn’t think of him.”

Rose Marie lived a life full of bountiful blessings. It was filled with the gift of family, parents, grandparents, a long, loving marriage, wonderful children, grandchildren, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, along with great friends, mentors, students, an unwavering faith and strong presence in the community. Rose considered herself blessed to be able to call Holland her home. After briefly moving away, when she moved back she declared “Thank Heaven I am back in Holland…you really can’t find a nicer place.” Because of Rose and her many talents she graciously shared with her beloved hometown, Holland is a better and more beautiful place. Because of Rose Albers, all who were lucky enough to know her, are better people because of it.

Rose lovingly called her mother one of the most influential people in her life. Sadly, Rose lost her mother to cancer at just 47 years old. Later in life Rose would lose her daughter to cancer also at the age of 47. Both were tremendous losses of people gone far too soon. Rose also had a

deep love and sense of gratitude for her uncle Buck who was as she said “a second father to her.” As her family, we also feel tremendous gratitude for these people for because of them, we were blessed by our beloved Rose…mom, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.

“Do not watch the petals fall from the rose with sadness. Know that like life, things must sometimes fade before they bloom again.” Anonymous

Until we meet again, Rose. We are all far better people for having known you and loved you.

Not a day will go by without us thinking of you.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, Thursday, November 20, 2025, at the Chapel at Christ Memorial Church, 595 Graafschap Road in Holland. Rev. Dr. Tim Brown will be officiating. Entombment will be in the Restlawn Memorial Gardens Mausoleum.

Visitation will be from 10:00 – 10:45 am prior to the service.

Arrangements are by Dykstra Funeral Homes – Mulder Chapel.