Sylvia Dykstra, age 97, passed from this life into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at her cottage with family beside her holding her hands.
She was born December 6, 1928, to Rev. Harry and Louise Blystra in Sully, Iowa. The family moved to Michigan when she was 3, when her father became pastor at Graafschap Christian Reformed Church. She was the 8th of 10 children. Early memories included always singing a psalm and a hymn as a family after supper. She shared memories of the children taking turns helping their mother (as the pastor’s wife) take treats to each church council meeting and serving them coffee. She also remembered getting an orange as a Sunday School treat at Christmas and how the children all loved that.
Sylvia graduated from Holland Christian High School and went on to graduate from Calvin College and Blodgett Nursing School with a bachelor’s degree and as an RN. She met her dear Simon, “Sy,” after he came home from serving in the Army in World War II. They married on June 10, 1953. She changed her focus from nursing to her family, which was her greatest earthly joy. She was the heart of the home, a loving and wise partner to Sy and mother to her four children. She valued kindness, gentleness, humility and grace. She was elegant but also adventurous, and not everyone got to see it, but she was also very funny. She was an avid reader and knitter until her eyesight dimmed. She passed on her love for knitting and crocheting to her grandchildren. She loved playing the piano, golfing, downhill skiing and traveling.
The foundation of Sylvia’s life was her faith. Although she went to be with Jesus face to face that hot July day, in reality she was with Jesus her whole life. During the day she exuded kindness, gentleness, and peace, and in the sleepless stretches of dark nights, she would pray, sing, and recite Bible verses. She was a long-time member of Maranatha CRC and her love for the Lord and her heart for service were clear in all she did. Her faith manifested itself in numerous acts of service and compassion, including cooking meals for others, knitting hats and blankets for others, visiting shut-ins, having Bible studies with women in the community, volunteering at Holland Christian School and Tulip Time and going with Sy on disaster relief trips. Her children have fond memories of her and Dad wearing their green shirts and going on their CRWRC trips helping people who had experienced devastating loss from various natural disasters. Together they canvassed neighborhoods in places like Texas, Mississippi, West Virginia and Minnesota, helping people find the assistance they desperately needed. They saw the aftermath of tornados, hurricanes and floods. Mom said floods were the worst.
She is preceded in death by her husband Simon in 2001 and by her son-in-law David Raffenaud in 2014. She was the last of the 2nd generation Blystra clan in West Michigan, being preceded in death by her and Sy’s sisters and brothers and in-laws including Nicholas (Juliet) Blystra, Juliet (Lucas) Ensing, Wilma (Jerome Slenk/Gerald LeFebre), Cornelia (Harold) Arens, Harold (Irene) Blystra, Andrew (Arlynn) Blystra, Harriet (Harvey) Haverdink, Martha (Jacob) Terpstra, Louise (Kenneth) Lanninga, Willard (Pearl/Jo) Dykstra, Julia (Carl Myrick/Ray Klingenberg), and Mary Jane (Robert Smit/Gordon Zuverink).
She is survived by her children Sue (Dave) VanderHeide of Holland, Jane Dykstra of Traverse City, Krista Raffenaud of Fennville and Dan (Jodi) Dykstra of Hartland, Wisconsin; 8 grandchildren Jen VanderHeide (Sarah Jacobson), John VanderHeide (Tfawa Haynes ), Ky(Allie) VanderSchrag, Mark VanderHeide, Simon Dykstra, Sam Dykstra, Talia Dykstra, Elijah Dykstra; and 1 great-grandchild, Skye VanderSchrag.
Funeral services will be 12 noon on Thursday, July 9, 2026 at Maranatha Christian Reformed Church, 918 Central Ave. Holland. Burial will be in Graafschap Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, at Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Home, 315 E. 16th St. Holland.
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