Anne Christine DeGraves

Born in Moline, Michigan, Anne made her home for many years in Wyoming, Michigan, and later enjoyed 23 wonderful years at Outdoor Resorts in Long Key, Florida, a community that became an important and joyful part of her life.

Those who knew Anne knew that she was, quite simply, “a force of nature.” She was strong, determined, creative, and endlessly energetic, but above all, she was the best mother and grandmother her family could have wished for. Anne didn't simply tell her family that she loved them—she showed them.

She worked throughout her adult life while still finding seemingly unlimited time and energy for her children and her community. When her daughter wanted to ride her horse, Anne would use her own lunch hour to drive her there. She led a remarkable 48-member Girl Scout troop and was deeply involved with the Wyoming Park Boosters, always willing to step forward when something needed to be done.

Her devotion to family extended well beyond her own children. Anne became the guardian and advocate for her older sister, who lived with mental illness. At a time when people with mental illness were too often forgotten or hidden away, Anne stood beside her sister and became involved in efforts to improve and clean up the institutions responsible for her care. It was one of many examples of Anne's determination to take care of the people she loved.

Anne also had a wonderfully creative side. She made crafts that she sold at shows, but perhaps her creativity was displayed most memorably in the elaborate dinners and shows she helped create during her years at Outdoor Resorts. An evening organized by Anne was never just dinner. There was The Speakeasy, the Italian Fest, the China Dinner, and many others—each one different, imaginative and memorable down to the smallest detail. Anne had a gift for turning an ordinary gathering into an occasion people would talk about long afterward.

Later in life, Anne became a member of Grandville United Methodist Church, where she found a community of faith that meant a great deal to her. She especially enjoyed helping with funeral dinners and the fellowship that came with serving others. She treasured the friendships she made there and the sense of God's community she found within the church.

Anne was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert J. DeGraves, and her sisters Audrey Lincoln, Lila Bileth, and Margie Mosley. Later in life, Anne had the special opportunity to meet members of her father's second family and form relationships that added another chapter to her family's story. She was also preceded in death by her half-siblings, Paty Czinder, Barbara Kaminski, and Bill Bileth.

Anne is survived by her daughters Denise Polino and her husband, Tony, and Cynthia Rinard and her husband, Mike. She is also survived by her grandson, Brian, his wife, Amber, and great-granddaughters Elise, Ainsley, and Emilia; grandson, Chris, his wife, Kelli, and great-grandson, Caden; grandson, Sean, his wife, Kelsey, and great-grandchildren Jacob and Carli. She is also survived by her dear sister-in-law, Doris, and by her Bileth half-siblings Bonnie Grooters, Jack Bileth, and Vicki Hickmont, with whom Anne was joyfully reunited later in life.

Anne lived 95 years, but the measure of her life cannot be found simply in its length. It can be found in the family she fiercely loved, the sister she protected, the children she encouraged, the communities she served, the friendships she treasured, and the countless celebrations she made more beautiful simply because she was there.

She worked hard. She loved deeply. She created, organized, helped, protected, and celebrated. She was a force of nature, but to her family, she was simply Mom and Grandma. She will be deeply missed and forever loved.

Celebration of life service will take place 4 p.m. Friday, August 28, 2026 at Grandville United Methodist Church, 3140 Wilson Ave. SW, Grandville, MI 49418, with a luncheon to follow.

The family welcomes memories and messages at www.cookcaresgrandville.com in their guestbook online.