Helene Mae VanderMey

Helene VanderMey was a woman of amazing love, grace and most of all, faith. She was a selfless woman, who always put the needs of others before her own, caring for those whatever their needs. Helene was a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, yet most of all, she was a woman who dedicated her life to doing the Lord's work.

Helene's story began on a cold winter day in 1930, in the little town of Fremont, Michigan. Those were trying times for so many in this country, as the dark cloud of the Great Depression had set upon our skies, and nearly a quarter of Americans were out of work. Fremont, a primarily Dutch community north of Muskegon, was better off than many towns, as the Gerber Products Company began a successful baby-food empire there in 1928, helping support the local economy. The Gerber baby became the world's best-known baby, yet on February 21, 1930, Martin and Alice (Looyengoed) Tanis celebrated a baby of their own, their first of two children, a beautiful baby girl they named Helene.

Helene's father was a "Cooper," helping make pickle barrels in a pickle factory, while her mother was a homemaker caring for Helene and five years later, her little sister Shirley. Helene was raised in a very religious, multigenerational Dutch home, very proud of its heritage and very devoted to its church. Her parents raised her with very strong religious teaching and values.

Helene attended Fremont Christian Schools, and also learned to play the piano quite beautifully. She sang in her church choir, and would later in her life play the church organ. She loved the cherished time she spent with her father, taking walks in the woods, fishing off the pier at Lake Michigan, or visiting her uncle Harry's farm.

When Helene entered junior high school, the family packed up and moved to Muskegon, where her father had purchased a Mobil Oil Gas Station. She attended Muskegon High School, where she became a cheerleader.

After she graduated from high school, Helene went to work for Weirengo Associates, a local law firm, doing office work, and later worked for an attorney named E.H. Sheldon. It was her personal life, not her professional, that was about to get more interesting, however.

She soon met a handsome young man named Edward VanderMey, who attended her church while he recovered from his Navy injuries at the hospital in Muskegon. It didn't take long for the two to fall in love, as Ed was quite taken with the young, pretty Helene. They were soon married, on September 9, 1949, at East Muskegon Christian Reformed Church, and honeymooned at the Wisconsin Dells.

Ed worked as a repossession man for GMAC to support his new bride, who continued to work at the law office for a few years. In 1955, the couple adopted their first child, a baby boy named Tim, and the following year, they were blessed with the birth of son Keith. Ed was soon transferred to Kalamazoo that same year, in 1956, and after a few years there, the family bought a home in Portage, at 325 Ruth Street, where they raised their happy family. Helene worked part-time for E.C. Deyo, an appraisal firm, which let her do much of her typing at home to keep an eye on her soon-to-be-growing family. In 1963, they adopted their third child, a beautiful baby girl named Amy.

Helene was a wonderful wife and mother, so deeply committed to her husband and family. She enjoyed sewing and cooking, and was an excellent homemaker, as well. Having grown up in the Depression, she was also quite frugal, and Helene and Ed sacrificed over the years to put their children through Christian schools. Their faith and their church were always of the utmost priority in their lives.

Their family dinners were very important and it was around the dinner table where they said their daily devotions. Helene was a true student of the Bible, a true Christian woman, and raised her children devoutly, as well. She always set a good example for them, and encouraged them to succeed in life.

The family was very close-knit and did much together, and their vacations usually entailed camping at some of their favorite spots, like Yankee Springs or Spring Valley Park in Bloomingdale. They began camping in a tent, eventually moving up to an RV, and while Helene would have preferred "camping" at the Holiday Inn, she sacrificed for her family's wishes, just as always.

Helene had many interests of her own, especially making crafts. She loved to make Christmas decorations, and enjoyed ceramics, stamping and scrapbooking, too. Most of all, Helene loved the Lord, and her church. She and Ed began as members of the Milwood Christian Reformed Church, later joining the Portage CRC until it closed, when they joined the Third Reformed Church. Helene enjoyed playing the piano her entire life, and was the church organist at Portage CRC. She also loved singing in the choir, and the Halleluiah chorus was her all-time favorite. Her faith was a tremendously important part of who Helene was.

She was equally devoted to her family, as well. When Ed began his own insurance agency, Helene happily helped out with typing and office work until their retirement in the early 1990s. She had also worked for Kalamazoo Christian Schools as a typist over the years during the 1970's.

Helene and Ed enjoyed their retirement, traveling to Arizona and other places, and staying at their time share in Florida. Ed also enjoyed golf, and Helene took up the game just to be with her beloved husband. Sadly, Ed was soon diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and Helene turned her full attention to caring for him. He eventually stayed at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans for several years until his death.

Helene cared for so many people over the years, and was well-known as a "Prayer Warrior" at her church, always asking who needed her prayers, always so selfless and thinking of others.

Sadly, Helene had heart surgery in 2006, causing her to have a diminished lung capacity. She died of pneumonia on October 8, 2006, going to be with her Lord on a beautiful, sunny fall Sunday.

Helene was a wonderful woman, such a caring, gracious and selfless person. She was a deeply devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother. Most of all, she was a woman of remarkable faith, whose love of the Lord touched the hearts of all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.

Helene Mae VanderMey, age 76, died October 8, 2006. She was born February 21, 1930 in Fremont, MI the daughter of Martin and Alice (Looyengoed) Tanis. Friends may spend time with her family Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-6080 Stadium Drive-Kalamazoo, 375-2900. Funeral service will be held Thursday 11 a.m. at Third Reformed Church, Pastor Jeff Porte officiating. Cremation will follow services with interment Friday 3 pm at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward G. VanderMey. Surviving are three children: Timothy VanderMey of Portage, Keith (Robin) VanderMey of Montgomery, AL, and Amy (James "Wally") Wallace of Strafford, NH; six grandchildren: Joe, David, Katie, Andrea and Emily VanderMey, and Kelsey Wallace; and a sister, Shirley (Allen) Boes of Muskegon. To read Helene's complete Life Story, archive a memory, upload photos, or make a memorial contribution to Third Reformed Church, please visit her personal Memory Page at www.lifestorynet.com