Ellen Mae DeYoung, age 78, died peacefully in her Lynden home on Feb. 4, 2017. She was known for her warm personality and beautiful singing voice.
Ellen was the third of four sisters. She was born Sept. 11, 1938 to Joseph and Adriana (DeGroot) Visser in Harvey, Illinois. She was raised in South Holland, Illinois, graduating from Thornton Township High School.
Ellen married John W. “Jack” DeYoung on March 8, 1958. Together they had seven children. She and Jack moved to Lynden in 1987. Ellen was active in Reformed, Presbyterian and Lutheran churches, and recently the First Congregational Church of Bellingham. She loved to sing in church, whether it was with the congregation, in a choir or singing a solo. She was a member of the Lynden Choral Society. Spending time with her children, grandchildren and husband gave her endless joy.
Ellen worked as a bank secretary, law clerk and Superior Court clerk, retiring in 2007.
Ellen was preceded in death by her sister Joni VanDerAa and daughter-in-law Martha DeYoung.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Jack; children Tim (Khim) DeYoung of Bellingham, Tamara (Louie) Palmer of Bellingham, Trella (Scott) Boone of Foley, Alabama, Todd (Seck) DeYoung of Singapore, Joel (Katherine) Earnest-DeYoung of Lynge, Denmark, Jonathan (Terri) DeYoung of Mesa, Arizona and Jason (Sorcha) DeYoung of West Linn, Oregon; 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and friends. She will be missed by her two sisters, Mildred VanProoyen and Janice Balkema.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10, in Gillies Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life, with Pastor Deanna Murray officiating, is at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, in First Congregational Church, 2401 Cornwall Ave., Bellingham. Graveside committal will be in Lynden Cemetery at 4:30 p.m.
You are invited to share your condolences and memories in the online guestbook at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.
