Alice Hardy

As the days of the infamous Roaring 20s gave way to hard economic times the world over, the U.S. faced great financial uncertainty, eventually cascading into panic with the crash of the stock market. It proved to be just merely the beginning of difficult days ahead, and the Great Depression was officially launched. Americans clung to hope through entertainment venues along with the introduction to the likes of the Mickey Mouse comic strip and the lovable Betty Boop. For Reinard and Elsie (Ytsma) Hekkema of Muskegon, Michigan, the troubling days were celebrated at home with the birth of their first daughter whom they named Alice, born on November 17, 1930. Alices father, better known as Dutch, provided for his family as a lift truck driver for S.D. Warren Paper Company, locally called the Paper Mill. Her mother, whose given name was Yeltje, was a homemaker who, as a young girl, immigrated to America from the Netherlands. Alice joined her older brother William, eventually welcoming younger siblings Robert, Anna and Marion. The family later moved to Fremont where they took on farming in addition to her fathers job at the paper mill. Along with her many other farm chores, Alice particularly detested milking the cows! Throughout her childhood, Alice became no stranger to hard work. Over time, she took on much responsibility when her mother became crippled due to a fall down a stairway, and aside from being the eldest daughter, Alice quite often had the added responsibility of looking after her younger siblings. Additionally, she kept very busy and worked hard at canning, cleaning and cooking while keeping the household running smoothly. Having attended rural Blue Lake School, Alice went on to Fremont High School, but as the needs at home increased, she was only able to complete the 10th grade. It was through Alices upbringing that she became a very dedicated and hard working individual throughout her life, but at the age of 16, she longed for a life away from the farm. One night while at the movie theater in Fremont with some of friends, Alice met Kenneth Roy Hardy, and her life was forever changed. It wasnt long before the two were married on February 15, 1947 in North Muskegon, and in due time, their marriage was blessed with children. They welcomed three daughters, Pamela Jean, Cathy Lynn and Sheila Marie, followed by son, Kenneth Michael. Even after Alice was married, she continued to be a loving and thoughtful sister. She frequently brought little sister Marion coloring books, knowing that she had few toys and playthings. As a family, the kids enjoyed going to the Dinner Bell Restaurant in Fruitport and taking in the festivities of the Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven each summer. Sunday afternoons were spent at Alices parents house for dinner, and the children loved Thursdays as Alice would prepare a fried ground beef meal topped off with a root beer or orange float. Alice became quite a good cook, and among other things, she made the best liver and onions, and baked the best sheet apple pie. Her homemade rolls were a dinner mainstay, and became a favorite of the neighborhood children as well. Along with motherhood and keeping house, Alice also worked outside the home. She became a nanny for various families during the day, and for 28 years, she worked in the evenings as a custodian for Grand Haven Public Schools. Even though Alice lived a life of dedicated hard work, she was always quite particular about her appearance, even if it did mean holding her family up while she made herself up to leave the house! Alice lived life simply, but fully. Over the years, she took several vacations north to Cedarville in the Upper Peninsula with her parents to take in some fishing, and she loved to decorate. Her decorating skills were wonderful, so much so that she could have done it as a profession. Sadly, when Alices husband Kenneth died in 1998, she put her energy full time into her family. When grandchildren came along, Alice was in her element. She cherished her grandchildren dearly, loving them unconditionally. She had a tender love for the Lord, and later in life, was baptized. A caring and loving person in the many lives she touched, Alice Hardy sadly died on Saturday, May 2, 2009 at the Heartwood Lodge Hospice in Grand Haven. Alice is survived by her daughters, Pamela Jean (Robert) Button, Cathy Lynn (James) Carter, and Sheila Marie Hardy, all of Grand Haven; son, Kenneth Michael Hardy of Newaygo; 6 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and 1 great great-grandson; brother, Robert (Roszetta) Hekkema of Twin Lake; sisters, Anna (Carlton) Riviat of White Cloud, and Marion Knash of Twin Lake; sister-in-law, Shirley Mae Hekkema of Twin Lake. Besides her husband, Alice was preceded in death by her brother, William and two grandsons, Kenneth Michael and Robert Phillip Hardy. Friends may meet her family on Tuesday 79 PM and Wednesday 24 & 79 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home-Grand Haven. A graveside service and interment will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2009, 2:00 PM at Lakeshore Cemetery-Grand Haven Township. Memorials may be made to Hospice of North Ottawa CommunityHeartwood Lodge. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory, submit a photo or sign Alices online guest book.