Ms. Elizabeth Anne (Wichers) Du Mez; MSW, ACSW, a loving mother and generous friend to so many, passed on November 9, 2024, in Holland, MI.
Elizabeth (Beth) was born in Holland, Michigan on June 30, 1939, to the late Nell and Willard (Bill) Wichers. Bethy spent her early years in Holland attending school, picking blueberries and working in the local Heinz Pickle Factory. Her childhood included many fond memories of spending time with her younger sister, Janet, exploring the shore of Lake Michigan. She attended Holland High School and following graduation spent her first two years of higher education at Hope College, completing her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work in 1962.
Beth married Theodore A. Du Mez in 1959. They settled in Arlington, Virginia where they shared a twenty-year marriage and started a family, which included the birth of their two sons Alexander J. Wichers Du Mez and Timothy Van Haitsma Du Mez. At this time Beth also started a trailblazing career in social work. She taught courses at George Mason University, completed her directed practice in public welfare serving disabled children, and worked at the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) from 1984-1999. While at NASW she held several positions including staffing the Division of Standards and Accreditation at the Council on Social Work Education. She then managed the Office of Ethics and Professional Review. She and a small team of highly respected colleagues took on the challenge of revising the NASW Code of Ethics which was completed in 1996.
In her retirement she continued to consult in the creation and revision of several international social work Codes of Ethics. She also published “Celebrating Social Work: Faces and Voices of the Formative Years”, a book sharing stories from influential practitioners and thought leaders that laid the groundwork for the modern field of social work, in 2003. To support future social work programming at NASW, Beth created the Wichers Ethics Education Fund in honor of her late father, Willard C Wichers. She also created the DuMez Faculty Research Development Fund, a scholarship at University of Kentucky to support future generations of social work faculty and students in their career development. In recognition of her many years of exceptional contributions to social work throughout her career, she received the Alumni Excellence Award and was inducted into the University of Kentucky College of Social Work’s Hall of Fame the year she retired from NASW in 1999. In reflection of her career, colleagues from NASW shared that Beth was vibrant, perceptive, enthusiastic, and creative, with a passion for justice, boundless empathy, and a wonderful sense of humor.
Beth’s altruistic spirit was boundless. She dedicated her personal and professional life to systematically fighting for equity and social justice in the Washington DC area. Beyond her professional role at NASW, she faithfully volunteered in the Radcliff Room, a mission at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church (NYAPC) serving the unhoused population of DC through offering breakfast and community every Sunday. As an active member of NYAPC for over forty years she served in many roles including as a deaconess and custodian of Triangle Park. In addition to her mission at her home church, she also drove for Meals on Wheels delivering hot meals and provided check-in visits to homebound aging seniors. She was also an advocate and dedicated resource for the McClendon Center, an organization founded at NYAPC committed to ensuring access to quality healthcare through community-based support. In appreciation of Beth’s spirit at NYAPC, fellow members shared that she was uniquely wonderful, a saint of the congregation, and an inspiring person of faith.
Throughout her life, Beth was an avid world traveler spending time in Europe, Australia, South America, and Africa. She visited friends often and shared her love of exploring the world with her family, particularly her grandchildren. For their 13th birthdays she gifted each of her four grandchildren a trip which brought them to Montana, California, the Netherlands, and Brazil for life-changing experiences and lifelong memories. Beth was also a patron of the local arts and culture of the DC area. She was a season ticket holder at Arena Stage and shared many performances with friends and family.
Her family and friends will continue to keep her spirit alive as they cherish memories of Beth as a great adventurer, world traveler, gifted gardener, loving mother and grandmother, and lavishly generous friend. She will be missed.
Beth is survived by her sons Alexander J Wichers Du Mez (Debbie) and Timothy Van Haitsma Du Mez (Deb); grandchildren Rachel (Benjamin) DuMez-Kornegay, Henry (Kelsey) Du Mez, Grace Du Mez and Lucas DuMez; and great grandson August Du Mez (son of Henry and Kelsey).
A graveside service honoring Beth’s life will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 11:00 am at Pilgrim Home cemetery in Holland, Michigan with a reception to follow at Third Reformed Church, 111 W. 13th Street, Holland, MI 49423.
A note from her grandchildren:
Grandma Beth,
We are deeply and profoundly grateful for all you shared with us. You were our adventure guide, cultural mentor, educational advocate, and extracurricular cheerleader. You loved each of us fiercely and championed our individuality. You instilled in us a sense of compassion and humanity for others, and we will continue to find ways to honor you and keep your legacy and fearless spirit with us.
We will also cherish your deep love for Lake Michigan, ensuring that its beauty and serenity remain a part of our lives, just as it was for you.
Love Always,
Rachel, Henry, Grace and Lucas
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