Connie Gezon

Connie (Schryvers) Gezon, 89, died peacefully on July 6, 2021 at Clark Home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Connie was born to Marius and Cornelia Schryvers in September 1931 in Midland Park, NJ.  She attended Eastern Christian Academy and then earned her degree in Social Work at Calvin College. She met her husband, Paul, at Calvin and they were married in 1952.  After staying home for many years, Connie returned to Social Work, a career that she enjoyed immensely  After her children were grown, Connie returned to college at University of Maryland where she earned her MSW. She began to work for Bethany Christian Services on the east coast and later transferred to the Grand Rapids office. Connie traveled a great deal for Bethany and at one time went to Albania for six weeks to teach in the school of social work, assisting in care and training of adoption practices.  She also traveled to China and had the opportunity to bring back a baby to an eager  adoptive couple.  Connie and Paul moved many times and each time Connie was able to put her own personal touch on the “white elephants” and she was ahead of her time in home makeovers. Any secondhand, thrift store or garage sale beckoned to Connie where she just might find that special piece of antique furniture or decor. Connie and Paul raised one daughter and four boys and in their earlier years, the family enjoyed camping in the mountains and at Myrtle Beach. Connie also loved her dogs very much and was particularly fond of Collies and rescue dogs, a passion she shared with her son, Mark.  Connie had been active at Central Reformed Church  for many years and also enjoyed attending adult classes at Calvin.  Connie and Paul enjoyed their cottage in Idlewood Beach in Holland for many years where she cherished the beautiful sunsets and the hypnotic sound of Lake Michigan. Connie was preceded in death by her parents, Marius and Cornelia Schryvers; her brother, Jimmy; her sister, Betty Sondermeyer; her husband, Paul and her son, Mark.  Connie is survived by her sister, Marilyn Schryvers, daughter Susan (John) Morgan, sons Russ (Jan) Gezon, David (Anne) and Jim (Jen) Gezon, grandchildren, David Shriver, Chris and Caroline Gezon, Katie and Nick Gezon, Anna and Benjamin Gezon, step-grandchildren, Heidi Rose, Dawn Gardner and Mark Shriver.  A memorial service will be held at Central Reformed Church on July 26 at 1:00 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Connie’s name to Bethany Christian Services, 901 Eastern Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 or Kent County Animal Shelter.

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