Alice (Aaltje Anna) De Ruiter of Holland went to be with her Lord and Savior on October 22, 2025, at the age of 96. At the time of her death she was a resident of Appledorn Assisted Living Center where she received wonderful care and comfort from the staff, as well as Hospice of Holland in her final days. Alice was born in Made-Drimmelen, the Netherlands, on February 27, 1929. After enduring World War II, Alice immigrated to the U.S. by boat with her fiancé, Cornelius (Case) DeRuiter, arriving in the U.S. on July 12, 1950. Case and Alice were married on September 22, 1950.
Alice was a wonderful wife, mother and friend, supporting those facing adversity and encouraging those pursuing their dreams. She worked hard all of her life, helping people in their homes and at a local bakery where she became known to many in town as the “donut lady”.
Alice was a faithful member of Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church, and prior to that Maple Avenue Christian Reformed Church. Prior to her illness she faithfully attended church services and very much enjoyed her Bible study groups and participating in the many activities of the church including visiting those unable to attend services. For many years, each week Alice would bake a variety of cookies to enrich the after-church coffee hour.
Alice was preceded in death by her parents, Gerardus and Elisabeth (Schuuring) van der Sluijs of Made-Drimmelen, the Netherlands, her husband Cornelius, her son Paul, her brothers, Jan and Jacobus van der Sluijs, and her sisters Elizabeth (Betje) van der Sluijs, Aartje Elizabeth Vander Veken and Anna Klazeina De Vries.
Surviving are her children, John DeRuiter and partner Leonard Rogalla of Muskegon, MI; Jack DeRuiter and his wife, Pamela of Alexander City, AL; William G. DeRuiter and his wife Sharon of Kalamazoo, MI; Elizabeth A. DeRuiter-VandeWaa of Spanish Fort, AL; and Mark DeRuiter and his wife, Cathy of Pittsburgh, PA. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Alexander DeRuiter (wife Blair), Taylor DeRuiter (wife Katie), Casaundra Jordan (husband Jeff), Jennifer Branson (husband Kevin), Dustin DeRuiter, Matthew DeRuiter (wife MicKayla), Arie VandeWaa (wife Caitlin) and Elissa Pennington (husband Kerrigan). Her great-grandchildren include Jackson, William and Bennett Green, Brooklyn DeRuiter, Karson and Riley Pennington, Eliza VandeWaa and Milo DeRuiter.
To view the livestream of the service, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUZYiVYfmcQ
Funeral services will be 11:00 am Wednesday, October 29, 2025, at Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church, 259 Central Ave., Holland. Officiating will be Reverend Chad Steenwyk. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Pilgrim Home Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to The Central Avenue CRC Memorial Fund, Hospice of Holland Inc., 270 Hoover Blvd, Holland, MI and Gateway Mission (Holland City Mission), 661 East 24th Street, Suite 300, Holland, MI.
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