Bernice Van Lente

Bernice was born at home on Walnut Avenue in Holland, MI to her parents, Walter and Jacoba (Weller) Kuizenga, August 28, 1920. After graduating from Holland High School, she worked at Fris’ on Eighth Street. She married Donald Van Lente, home from basic training at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, on May 26, 1943. As so many war brides did, she traveled with him from base to base during his Bombardier Training aboard B-17s and B-29s, finding work and places to live. She enjoyed sharing stories of her many experiences during those years.

When WWII ended and Don was discharged from the military, they worked side by side to build a home and establish a successful blueberry farm north of Holland. She often managed the fields during harvest while Don worked at Chris Craft; a play pen nearby in order to tend to the needs of the latest of the seven children she gave birth to and raised during those years. Raising them included nursing them through all of the childhood illnesses; often, many sick at the same time.

A long time charter member of the Ventura Baptist Church Community, she lived her life as a compassionate, caring, woman of strong faith, reaching a hand out to others in need in many ways throughout the years. Anyone who came to her door was welcome to come in and share a cup of tea or coffee and a blueberry muffin around the round oak kitchen table. Those in need of some respite could often find the home opened for a night or two.

She loved music, a love developed by her father’s violin playing and time spent listening to the “Weller Family Orchestra” play together throughout her childhood. In later years and even just before her death, she would sing snatches of old songs, evoking smiles and memories in listeners and an invitation for them to “join in.”

After the children moved away, she had more time to devote to her talents of sketching, needlework and knitting and her love of gardening. She also enjoyed time reading, especially history and the Bible.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 69 years, Donald, on May 10, 2012; her sisters, Bowina (Raymond) Bratt and Velma (Cliff) Shoemaker.

She is survived by her seven children and their spouses: Donna (Ed) Kleibusch; Joanne (Ronald) Kopka; Barbara (Terry) Burlingame; Betty (Mike) Mulcrone; Norma (David) Rininger; Lois Van Lente and spouse, Mustafa Gheriani; Daniel (Linnay) Van Lente.

Also surviving her are her beloved 17 Grandchildren and their spouses and her 24 great grandchildren.

She was the Grandma with the well stocked jar of freshly baked cookies for anyone to enjoy. She always loved visits from nieces and nephews, or friends and neighbors who dropped in to see her.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 3, 2019, at 11:00 am at Lakeshore Memorial Services, 11939 James St. in Holland with Pastor Timothy Durey officiating. Interment Restlawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Holland, David’s House Ministries, or Holland Mission.

The Family is grateful to all of the caretakers at American House, the Lighthouse Unit, as well as Keystone Hospice, who shared in the care of Bernie, our Mom, as her needs changed and increased this past year. We deeply appreciate the compassion shown to her. Please visit www.lakeshorememorial.com to leave a message or memory for the family.