Anna Adema

People who knew Anna Adema were blessed - by her unconditional love and her generosity of spirit. She was a simple, yet resourceful woman who, through her love and hard work, provided a strong and benevolent foundation for her family.

The year was 1918 and Woodrow Wilson was re-elected to a second term as President, Irving Berlin penned "God Bless America" and World War I was nearing its end. In a small farming community in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Albert Snip and his wife, Josie (DeMeester), were busy making preparations for the impending arrival of their first child. On June 30, 1918, the couple delighted in the birth of a beautiful daughter they named Anna.

Anna was the Snips only child and she enjoyed a happy childhood growing up on her family's farm on 8th Avenue. Her father worked as a farmer, while her mother tended to the needs of the family. Anna never shied away from work, and actually enjoyed being outside working in the garden, which boasted of beautiful flowers and vegetables. They canned much of their bounty, but also sold tomato and pepper plants. Like many young girls of the time, Anna attended school only through the 8th grade, then she stayed home to help her mother. It wasn't all work for Anna though she had a group of friends in the area that she played with regularly. A couple of sisters she often played with had a brother named Samuel Adema, and he was quite smitten with Anna. Samuel eventually asked Anna out, and they dated for some time before marrying in 1940, at the Walker Christian Reformed Church.

After saying I do, the couple made their first home together in a rented house on Fennessy N.W. Sam provided for his new bride working for a concrete company, while Anna prepared their home for their soon-to-be family. Over the next several years, the Adema household would grow to include three wonderful children: Jim, Kathy and Jack. Anna firmly believed that a woman's place was at home taking care of the children and she happily dedicated herself to the role of a mother. Later on, the family bought a home at 11725 8th Avenue, just four houses down from where Anna grew up. The house was small for a family of five; it only had two bedrooms, which meant Kathy and Jack had to share a room for many years. But, it did have 7.5 acres of land, which was plenty of room for the kids to run around on. Always a protective mother, Anna told her daughter Kathy before she left home "be careful when you go sweet." Sam and Anna enjoyed taking the kids on day trips to places around Michigan, like Deer Forest, Mackinaw Island and the Soo Locks.

Anna's life was not marked by glitz or glamour, but instead a stable and fulfilled commitment to the true bounties of life. She canned just about anything, including fruits, veggies, and meats. She made soup from scratch for the soup supper's at church and her family loved her mashed potatoes. She even still used the old wringer style washer to clean clothes and liked pink peppermints. For Anna, church was always very important and she raised her children in the same manner. They attended service regularly on Sundays and enjoyed various church programs during the week. Anna was a big gospel music fan and she and her daughter Kathy went to many concerts around town. It was Anna's strong faith that helped her and her family through some very difficult times. In 1975, they lost their son, Jim, in a snowmobile racing accident in Ironwood, MI, and seven years later, in 1982, Anna lost her beloved Sam.

What gave Anna the greatest joy was sharing herself with her family, offering them the most precious thing she possessed - her time. It is a gift none of her family will ever forget.

Anna Adema, age 88, of Standale, MI, passed away on Sunday, October 29, 2006. She was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel; son, Jim; and parents, Albert and Josephine Snip. Anna is survived by her children: Kathy Adema and Jack (Donna) Adema; daughter-in-law, Patricia (Bob) Senneker; grandchildren: James (Chrisy) Adema, Amy (Jamie) Spoors, Tashia (friend Russ Poll) Walker and Jackson Walker; four great grandchildren: Zachary, Sammy and Ellie Spoors, and Haylie Adema. The Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, November 2, at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes - Van't Hof Chapel, 851 Leonard N.W. Friends may meet her family on Wednesday, November 1, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment in Greenwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Hospice. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a favorite memory or photo of Anna or sign the online guestbook.