Susan Winchester Rhoades passed away peacefully in Holland, MI on April 7, 2024 at age 66.
Born on October 9, 1957, Susan was an enthusiastic lifelong Holland resident, growing up with her family on one of the city’s tulip lanes. She was known for her infectious laugh, her impressive ability to whistle, and her talent in riding her unicycle through town. At Holland High she played basketball and volleyball; she was an avid Dutch Dancer through high school and an alumni dancer for many years after that. She attended Alma College, was in the AZT sorority, and after graduating in 1979 she came back to Holland to work for Haworth Corporation for a decade. She then moved to Fris Hallmark store, where she delighted patrons for almost twenty years – she loved taking the time to help clients find that perfect card or gift. This role also enabled Susan to nurture her love of curating collectibles, from Christmas ornaments to Peanuts characters to Beanie Babies.
In 1988 Susan married her lifelong love and soulmate, Mark Rhoades, and they enjoyed 35 years of a wonderful partnership. She stayed active in Junior Achievement and was a life-long active member in Hope Church, where she taught Sunday School for over twenty years and loved playing in the church Bell Choir. One of her defining spirits was her kind-hearted dependability as a friend; she positively impacted the lives of all those she met. She delighted in doting on her many nieces and nephews, and was an unofficial aunt to all the kids in her neighborhood. One of her abiding passions was attending the Hope College summer theater productions every year and would often travel to Chicago to take in musicals with her sisters. Even they were not alums, Susan and Mark were both superfans for all Hope College sports.
Susan is preceded in spirit by her father and mother, Paul and Dorothy Winchester, and survived by her husband, Mark Rhoades, her brother Bob Winchester and her sisters Barb Winchester, Sally Winchester and Julie (Greg) Dingens, and nieces and nephews Benjamin (Natashka), Jonathon (Katie), Andrew and Christopher Fris; and Kelley, Kevin, David and Derek Dingens; Camden and Whitney Rhoades; Charlie Soucey; and Christian, Ryan and Hope Rhoades and great-nieces and -nephews Chloe, Wyatt, Scout and Cash.
Memorial services will be at Hope Church (77 West 11th Street, Holland MI) on Thursday April 18th, with visitation at 10:00 am and church services at 11:00 am; a reception at the church will follow immediately.
Arrangements are by the Dykstra Funeral Home-Downtown Chapel.
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