Irene Kathryn De Jong

Irene Kathryn Andringa was born February 14th, 1931 in Primghar, Iowa. She was the second of four children born to George and Anna Andringa. She attended school in a one room schoolhouse where she was the only girl among the eight students. One of the other students was the boy who was to become the love of her life, Bill De Jong. She graduated from the eighth grade and lived on the family farm in Northwest Iowa. As a teenager, she started working in a grocery store in Sanborn. She loved the outdoors and was happiest when she was able to be outside with her father, doing the chores on the farm. She would rather be outdoors than in the house anytime and this was shown in her hobbies, she loved to tend her garden and arrange flowers. She had a knack for decorating which she enjoyed throughout her life.

In 1951 she married Bill De Jong and began her own family. Her first children, a pair of twins, were stillborn and are buried in Iowa. She and Bill moved to California and had four more children, Jerry, Bill, Cindy, and Michelle. She sewed he kids clothing as they grew, and was very busy raising a family and going to the kid’s sporting events and other activities.

As her children grew, she participated in many church and school activities, such as, hymn sings, coffee break, good news club, young adults, and Bellflower Christian School Mother’s Club. There were also weekly traditions of Saturday night dinner with friends, and Wednesday night volleyball at Norwalk Park. Of course there were the summers fishing in Big Bear Lake and staying at the trailer park where she and Bill strengthened connections with friends old and new. Every five years Irene and Bill would explore the world with friends on ocean cruises to different destinations. Irene and Bill truly enjoyed church, life, family and friends

Irene suffered a major stroke in late November, 2022 and was under hospice care. She passed away March 7, 2023. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Anna, her twins daughters, Jean and Joy, her husband Bill, and brothers Merle, Bob, and Leroy Andringa.

She is survived by her children, Jerry (Charlene) De Jong, William (Marlene) De Jong, Cindy (John) Offringa, and Michelle (Steve) Van Noord, 20 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitesmortuary.com for the de Jong family.