Elsa J. Deventer

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Elsa Janni Deventer (nee
Tijssen) age 98, died peacefully in her sleep at Resthaven Care Center in Holland, Michigan, on
October 29. Elsa was born in Velsen, the Netherlands. She attended school for accounting and
worked in her parent’s store in Ijmuiden. She married her husband, Cornelis “Case” Deventer, in
1946 and the two of them immigrated to Holland, Michigan in May 1953.
Elsa was active in her church, Central Avenue CRC, and in her community. She worked
for many years as a part-time bookkeeper for Holland Motor Sales. Like her husband, she loved
classical music and played the recorder with a group of Hope College old instrument enthusiasts
for many years. After she retired, she spent many happy hours as a librarian at Evergreen
Commons, organizing books and visiting with patrons. Elsa volunteered for the Chamber of
Commerce during Tulip Time, answering questions about the festivities and sometimes about her
own Dutch heritage.
Elsa was much loved by her children, Patricia (Calvin) and Linda (Tom), and her
grandchildren, Emily (Sam), Caitlin (Mark) and Lauren. Her great grandchildren Wyatt, Emmit,
Rhys and Everett often visited her at Resthaven, delighting all of the residents with their energy
as they went to Captain Sundae for ice cream.
Elsa was preceded in death by her husband, Case, her brother, Ben, and her grandson
Ben. She is survived by her brother, Piet and her sister, Janni VanNoord-Tijssen in the
Netherlands. A private celebration of her life will be held by family. Interment will be in Pilgrim Home Cemetery. No visitation or memorial is planned. Donations in her honor may be given to Resthaven Care Center www.resthaven.org.