Tilly Wierenga

LIFESTORY:

Tilly Wierenga lived a long and full life. From her humble beginnings in Grand Rapids, Michigan, she valued education,worked hard, raised her family and enjoyed the fruits of a good life. Tilly saw remarkable changes take place in America during her lifetime and had much to offer from the things she had observed. She loved to experience and appreciate the world around her and did so through her many travels. But most importantly, she was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother to the family she loved dearly.

The turn of the century decade, from 1900 to 1909, was one of transition and progress. The American Industrial Revolution was in full swing, which attracted people from across the country and around the globe to the newly thriving cities where jobs abounded. Immigrants arrived by the boatloads to help fill the ever-increasing demand for workers. Nanne Peter Clover (Klaver) and his wife, Gatsche Tichelaar, were among those who traversed the Atlantic Ocean to seek a better life in the United States. Nanne came to the states in 1906 from the Netherlands and Gatsche followed a year later from Leewarden in the Netherlands. They settled in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a place they believed their children could flourish. Already the proud parents of two daughters, Grace (Gelsje) born in 1906, and Alice (Alyda) born in 1908, on August 26, 1909, the couple delighted in welcoming the birth of their daughter, Tilly. The family was complete a year later with the arrival of their son, Peter, in 1910.

Although America was in the middle of the most rapid period of change, the modern conveniences we have today were just a futuristic dream. Families kept their food stored in cellars, since refrigerators were not around yet, and iceman delivered daily, so they could keep their food fresh. While Henry Ford was making automobiles more affordable, mostly only the affluent families had cars. The iceman, milkman and even the hearses made their deliveries by horse drawn carriages and buggies. Tilly remembers her family did not have a phone, a television or radio when she was growing up. They kept abreast on the happenings in the world through the local newspaper and they were able to afford their first car when Tilly was old enough to start her first job. With relatives in Ada, Michigan, Tilly and her family would travel all day by train to visit their family for a few days, a trip that would take about 15 minutes on today's highways. And before they had a car, they had to walk a mile home from the train station with their luggage in tow.

Nonetheless, Tilly enjoyed a happy childhood, zooming to town on roller skates with her brother, or riding her brother's bike, which her mother did not approve of because it just wasn't "ladylike." Tilly was perfectly content playing with her one doll, but was amazed to find that other girls had more than one doll. During the Michigan winters, she and her siblings made many wonderful memories tobogganing and ice-skating on nearby ponds. It was quite a sight when flying became commercialized and everyone's awestruck eyes were on the skies when a big jet passed overhead.

Tilly received her education in the Grand Rapids Public Schools. Her first job was as a bookkeeper at Imperial Metal Products, and later after marrying, she kept the books for her husband, John, who was a salesman and factory representative. Tilly was in her late 20s when she met John Wierenga and they were married on October 19, 1938. The newlyweds settled into their first home together at 1313 Parkhurst NW in Grand Rapids, and were blessed with two wonderful children, Nancy Grace born April 20, 1944, and John Thomas, Jr. born April 4, 1952. Tilly was a devoted wife and mother and always put her family first.

Tilly and John were big travelers and eagerly looked forward to every new destination they ventured to. Through the years, their travels took them to Florida, Cuba (when it was still accessible) and many other places. Tilly lost her beloved husband and travel companion, John, on November 5, 1978. Although alone, Tilly continued to traverse the world to new and exciting destinations. She visited Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Belgium and on subsequent trips, Scotland, England and Wales, Scandinavia Israel and Palestine. Tilly was undoubtedly a "seasoned traveler." Tilly enjoyed embroidering, knitting and sewing, particularly making her own clothes. She also had a hat fetish and loved finding a new addition for her collection. Above all else, Tilly loved her family, children and grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Tilly Wierenga, age 96, passed away Sunday, March 19, 2006. She was preceded in death by her husband, John, brother, Peter Clover, and sisters, Grace Mieras and Alice (Alyda) Hage. She is survived by her children: Nancy and Nick Tuit of Kalamazoo, and John Wierenga of Grand Rapids; former daughter-in-law, Ellen Wierenga, of Grand Rapids; grandchildren: David and Kelly Tuit and their children, Alexandra, Emma and Olivia; Steven and Christi Tuit and their children Samuel, Rachel, and Benjamin; Anita and Tyler Buitenwerf and Amy Wierenga.

Funeral services for Mrs. Wierenga will be held on Wednesday, March 22, at 11 a.m. at the Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW, with interment in Rosedale Memorial Park. Friends may meet the family on Tuesday, March 21, from 7-9 p.m. Please visit Tilly's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, sign the guestbook or make a memorial contribution in her memory to Holland Home Hospice, 2100 Raybrook SE, Suite 303, Grand Rapids, MI 49546.