Sarella (VanOss) Bossenbroek

BOSSENBROEK, SARELLA F. Sarella F. (Van Oss) Bossenbroek, a kind and devoted Christian woman, peacefully died Wednesday morning in her room at Brookcrest Nursing Home in Grandville, MI. She was 91. Her loving husband of 62 years, Leonard, and her brother, sister, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends unite in thanking God for her life. Born at home in Jamestown, MI, Sarella (called "Sally" by her friends) attended Hope College (Holland, MI) in the early 1940's and graduated from Butterworth Hospital School of Nursing (Grand Rapids, MI) in 1943 (see accompanying graduation photo). Following graduation, Sarella worked in hospitals and doctors' offices in Michigan and Florida, including the obstetrics ward at Butterworth. Sarella met Leonard while he attended Calvin College. They married in 1950. Leonard graduated from Calvin Theological Seminary in early 1952 and accepted a call to pastor the Harrison (South Dakota) Christian Reformed Church. Sarella was Leonard's faithful helpmate while he pastored four churches in South Dakota, Iowa and Michigan until their retirement in 1984. In their ministry, Sarella was the woman behind the man-in-the-pulpit and she performed that role graciously. She pitched in whenever needed. In Harrison, she sometimes used her nursing skills to treat ill members of the congregation. Sarella was the primary care provider and discipline dispenser in a home that saw Leonard busy with church work and Sarella busy with her four sons. She kept a neat home and prepared hearty meals for her family. As a child of the Great Depression, she was thrifty and recycled before "green" meant anything besides a color. Sarella loved God's Word and volunteered at Project Philip (Bible Correspondence Course) (Jenison, MI) after retirement. She and Leonard were interested in their families' ancestry and how God sustained their families through the generations. Through a great deal of research, including trips to the Netherlands, they were able to trace their family roots back to the early 1800's. Sarella prayed daily for her sons and their families. She had a wry sense of humor (more often displayed in her later years), wasn't a complainer and didn't speak badly of people, even when they deserved it. She was quick to compliment and slow to blame. Above all, Sarella trusted Jesus Christ alone as her Savior to forgive, and ultimately heal her. Even after losing some of her lucidity, she was ever quick to profess: "we still know who we are and Whose we are, don't we Dad?" Sarella will be missed by Leonard, who resides in Brookcrest Nursing Home; by her sons and daughters-in-law, Carl and Nancy Bossenbroek of Byron Center, MI, James and Carla Bossenbroek of Austin, TX, Steven and Elaine Bossenbroek of Holland, MI, and Lorin and Debra Bossenbroek of Grandville, MI. She will be missed by her grandchildren and step-grandchild, Joe (and Marcia) Bossenbroek, Jessica (and Ryan) Ronne, Nicki (and Dave) Kooistra, Lindsay (and Keith) De Young, Zachary (and Christy) Bossenbroek, Ezekiel (and Dora) Bossenbroek, Elijah (and Kate) Bossenbroek; Karen (and Manoj) Mulki, Steven L. Bossenbroek II, Geoff (and Elizabeth) Bossenbroek, Ciri (and Kurt) Mingerink; Hannah (and Brandon) Lawrence, Chelsea (and Zachary) Snyder; Chloe Bossenbroek, Greta Bossenbroek, Scott Eldred, Emma Bossenbroek and Moses Bossenbroek; by her great grandchildren (Kilian O'Mara, Shiloh Bossenbroek, Dolorez Bossenbroek, Caleb Crisman, Tate Ronne, Lucas Crisman, Mya Ronne, Mabel Crisman, Joshua Crisman, Jada Ronne, Ethan Bossenbroek, Chandini Mulki, Milind Mulki, Jackson Bossenbroek, Jaden Bossenbroek, Ella Bossenbroek, Sadie Mingerink, Kaden Mingerink, Roman Bossenbroek, Jagger Bossenbroek, Bailey Bossenbroek, Isabella Bossenbroek, Ayva Kooistra, Wyatt Kooistra, Sawyer De Young, Walker De Young; by her sister, Leona Van Oss who also resides in Brookcrest and her brother Forrest (Jane) Van Oss of Pella, Iowa; by nephews and nieces; by dear friends; and by fellow members of Faith Community Church in Wyoming where Sarella has been a member since 1971. Sarella's family thanks the staff of Sunset Manor, Brookcrest Nursing Home and Faith Hospice who consistently treated Sarella with dignity and kindness. The Bossenbroek family will receive relatives and friends at the Matthysse-Kuiper-DeGraaf Funeral Home, 4145 Chicago Drive, Grandville, MI on Sunday from 1 to 5 pm. A private graveside service will be held Monday morning at Floral View Memorial Gardens. The Memorial Service for Sarella Bossenbroek will be held on Monday at Faith Community Christian Reformed Church, 5250 Byron Center Ave. SW, Wyoming, MI, at 11 am, the Reverend Roger Groenboom officiating. The family requests that memorial contributions may be made to Faith Community Christian Education Memorial Fund. Condolences may be sent online at www.mkdfuneralhome.com.