Alice J. (DeBoer) DeVries

Alice Jeanne DeVries, age 85, of Cedar Grove, NJ went to be with her Lord and Savior on her birthday, Thursday, November 2, 2023. She was a member of The Presbyterian Church of Upper Montclair, NJ.   

Alice was born on November 2, 1938, in Grand Rapids, MI, to parents, Jay and Ethel DeBoer. She was predeceased by her parents, her older sister, Karen Lyzenga, and a grandchild, Joshua DeVries, who died in infancy.   

Alice attended Grand Rapids Christian High School where she played the baritone horn in the marching band.  Alice and Karen spent many vacations at Big Star Lake with their parents.  They had a dog named Tuffy.  She graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School and attended Calvin University.  

In 1960, Alice married her high school sweetheart Vern DeVries and they shared the joys and challenges of life together for the next 63 years, as they moved from place to place; living in Columbus, OH, Ridgewood and Wyckoff, NJ, Blue Bell, PA, and retiring in Cedar Grove, NJ. Throughout her life, Alice served as a secretary in various schools and churches, and also as church treasurer while attending Irving Park Christian Reformed Church, Midland Park, NJ. Alice enjoyed being surrounded by children, especially while secretary at Ridge Elementary School, Ridgewood, NJ.  

Alice was a loving mother to her children and always knew when they needed a shoulder to lean on or a laugh to make them smile.  She raised her children in Ridgewood, New Jersey.   She enjoyed summers with the kids at Graydon Pool and took great care of Tigger, the family dog.  Alice played in a tennis group and later took up golf where she was most proud of joining “the hole-in-one club”.  Her hobbies included sewing, cooking new recipes and scrapbooking.  Later in life she enjoyed attending her grandkid’s games, sports, concerts and plays to watch and cheer them on.  Whether spending time with extended family or friends, Alice could be found at the center of things with a big laugh that filled the room.  She enjoyed travel and camping trips with her family throughout the United States and Canada, and in later years traveling internationally with her husband and friends.  

She will be deeply missed by her husband Vern and her four children and their spouses: Mark (and Laura) DeVries of Washington Township, NJ, Thomas (and Jennifer) DeVries of Jefferson Township, NJ and their daughters, Dana, Sarah, and Kayla, Daniel (and Patricia) DeVries of North Haledon, NJ and their sons Jason, David, and Zachary, and Barbara (and Roy) House of Mendham Township, NJ and their daughters, Samantha and Marisa.  

Friends may visit the family on Sunday, November 5, from 3 - 5 PM at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Avenue, Wyckoff, NJ. A memorial service will be held on Monday, November 6 at 10:30 AM at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, followed by interment at Wyckoff Reformed Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s New Jersey, 425 Eagle Rock Avenue, #203 Roseland, NJ 07068 or https://www.alznj.org/

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