Doris A. VanEss

Doris Adele (Dingeman) VanEss, a woman of faith and enduring love, passed away peacefully on April 21, 2024, at home with family at her side. Born in Grand Rapids on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1923, she spent her long, wonderful life in the loving embrace of West Michigan.
Doris graduated from East Grand Rapids High School and Michigan State University. Although she faced the heartbreak of losing her daughter Susan in 1975, Doris' life overflowed with the blessings of a large and loving family that she raised with her husband Bob VanEss. Doris is survived by her four children, Nancy (John) Patterson, Kurt VanEss, Jan (David) Cornelius, and Craig VanEss (fiancé Elizabeth Wood). Her legacy lives on in her ten grandchildren, David (Rebecca) Patterson, Keith (Bethany) Patterson, Brad (Ashlee) VanEss, Megan (Chelsea) VanCash, Courtney (Mike) Deline, Jack VanEss, Daniel (Maddy) Cornelius, Michael Cornelius, Kat (Max) Bremer, and Olivia VanEss. She cherished her great-grandchildren, Taylor, Dylan, Hayley, Gabriella, Ford, Miller, Hartlee, Joshua, Fin, and Kylie.
Doris' life was a vibrant tapestry woven with many threads. She truly possessed a zest for life. Her first true loves were reading and ballet, followed closely by piano. Sharing her passion for music and education, she nurtured young minds teaching first grade at Lafayette Elementary until her marriage, and with piano lessons for many years while raising her five kids. Doris made many dear friends like Marilyn Steele, serving in church and hospital guilds, with the Breton Downs Garden Club, and playing bridge. She loved hosting family gatherings and world travel.
A keen intellect kept Doris sharp, successfully navigating the complexities of the stock market. She loved non-fiction, was a loyal reader of the Wall Street Journal, loved Calvin College’s January Series and lifelong learning classes at Aquinas College. She excelled at photographing flowers, and proudly designed and built a lake home in her 70s in the woods of Northern Michigan, enjoying nature to the fullest. At the age of 82, Doris embraced a new challenge, learning to play the flute with the help of her talented friend Cheryl Wells, and took great delight in playing in the New Horizons band at St Cecilia until early 2020. Doris’ last home was at Breton Ridge Independent Living where she enjoyed concerts, lunches and lectures and most of all the loving company of wonderful neighbors that quickly became friends.
Doris’ family extends their heartfelt gratitude to those that dedicated so much of their lives to enrich hers, including Dawn Robinson and Theresa Jackson, countless other angelic caregivers, Paul Harris, Faith Hospice nurse, and her special friends, Marny, Katie, Alice, Susie and Shirley for the compassionate care and friendship they provided Doris in her later years.
A celebration of Doris’ life will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Breton Ridge of Holland Home, 2772 Pfeiffer Woods Dr. SE, Kentwood, MI 49512. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Faith Hospice’s garden and prayer walk at Trillium Woods campus, which will create a space for finding comfort and peace.
Doris VanEss’ sharp mind and gentle humor will be dearly missed. May her memory be a blessing, and may we all learn to laugh at life as heartily as she did.

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