Alberta De Jong

A socially distant visitation for family only, will be held from 9:00 - 10:00 am, Thursday, July 16, at the Garden Chapel Funeral Home. The family requests everyone wear a mask.

Alberta Arlene Lourens was born on November 3, 1933, at her parents’ home in Mahaska County, Iowa.  She was the first of five children born to John and Cora (Schinkel) Lourens. Alberta attended Lacey and Cedar elementary schools.  She graduated as salutatorian from Pella Christian High School in 1951. Alberta attended Central College and then started her teaching career at Peoria Christian School. After teaching at Peoria, she began teaching at Pella Christian Grade School.  Alberta loved teaching and after her children were all in school, she taught preschool in Pella for many years. Alberta also served as church secretary and a GEMS (formerly Calvinettes) counselor for Second Christian Reformed Church in Pella.  Alberta enjoyed singing and music and was in vocal groups and the school choir at Pella Christian High School.  She was also a choir member at Pella II CRC.  Alberta enjoyed nature and going for walks in nearby parks in the Pella area birdwatching, and hunting for interesting rocks and various and unique foliage.  Alberta loved travelling with her husband, Paul, and together they went on many trips throughout the United States and Canada. Her favorite vacation was going to Florida where she could walk the beaches and hunt for seashells.

Alberta was joined in marriage to Paul D. De Jong in Pella Second Christian Reformed Church on July 7, 1954. They were blessed with three children, Richard, Rhonda, and Rene’ and five granddaughters. As an adult, her home had always been in Pella, Iowa.  She moved to assisted living at The Cottages in April of 2014 through November of 2018.  From November 2018 until mid-July of 2020, she lived at Ludington Woods Living Center near her daughter, Rene’, in Ludington, Michigan.  Alberta went to her heavenly home on July 12, 2020 at the age of 86.

 Alberta is survived by three children and five grandchildren: Richard De Jong of Kennewick, Washington and his daughter, Nicole De Jong of San Antonio, Texas; Rhonda (DeJong) and Dale Davis and their daughters, Stephanie and Sarah Davis all of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Rene’ (De Jong) and Fermin Martinez, of Ludington, Michigan and her daughters, Amanda Whitmore of Bologna, Italy and Abby Koning of Chicago, Illinois.  Alberta’s extended family includes her sister, Wilma (Lourens) Huyser of Grand Rapids, Michigan; brother Don (and Louella) Lourens of Fremont, Iowa; brother Elvin and (Retha) Lourens of Eddyville, Iowa; and brother Derrell (and Peggy) Lourens of Orange City, Iowa.

Alberta was preceded in death by her husband, Paul D. De Jong, her parents John and Cora Lourens, her parents-in-law, Martin and Ebeline (Hoksbergen) De Jong, a sister-in-law, Junella De Jong at a young age and the following brothers-in-law: Harold De Jong at a young age, Charles De Jong and his wife Cora Mae, Bill De Jong and his wife Bea, Frank Huyser, and Albert De Jong and his wife Pauline. 

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