Vannye Duchane

Vibrant, fun-loving, and compassionate, Vannye DuChane was a gift to those around her. She was blessed with the gift of hospitality, and her desire to make things special for those around her was never-ending. There was nothing Vannye treasured more than being a wife, mother, and grandmother as her family was her greatest source of pride and joy. A vital part of the community she called home throughout much of her life, there was no one who met Vannye and left unchanged. She faced the trials that came her way with grace and poise, and her strength was found in the family she loved more than life itself. Although she will be deeply missed, Vannye will never be forgotten. It was great to be an American during the Roaring Twenties when innovation brought us radios, motion pictures in both color and sound, and more affordable automobiles thanks to the widespread implementation of the assembly line. Amidst this exciting time was the year 1927 when Henry and Vanny Lee (Whitley) Brown were eagerly awaiting the birth of their new baby in their hometown of Des Arc, Arkansas. The big day finally arrived when they baby girl they named Vannye Lee drew her first breath. She was the sixth of eight children in her family, and she was raised in the family home alongside her brothers, Owen, Walter, Warren, and Joe and her sisters, Virgina, Marian, and Roseanne. Vannyes father was the bridge master for a local highway drawbridge, but he later owned a general store. Named after her mother, she even grew to look and act very much like her mother by the time she was a young lady. Vannye was raised in part by their domestic help, and she learned to cook both from their maid, Hattie, and also from her mother. Although she was a good student, she was also very athletic and learned to play baseball with her brothers. After graduating from high school, Vannye and her sister, Roseanne, moved to Muskegon Michigan, for a summer where they lived with their sister, Virginia, and her young family while Virginias husband served in WWII. Vannye and her sister seemed to draw attention, and they became known throughout the Bluffton neighborhood where they lived. She frequented the soda fountain at the Octagon Food Shop where she got to know the owners, Bill and Marie Duchane, who eventually introduced her to their son, Bill Jr., when he was home on leave after basic training. There was an immediate attraction that neither could deny, and Vannye and Bill remained in contact while he continued to serve in the Army. With his military duties fulfilled, Bill retuned home, and he and his sweetheart resumed their relationship. After falling deeply in love, they were married on July 6, 1949, in the Little Chapel in Bluffton. They initially settled into a little home Bills dad owned there, but they later built a beautiful home on a hill next door to Bills parents. It was there that they welcomed their two children, Cynthia in 1951 and Suzette in 1957, into their hearts and home. Because Bill was a general contractor the family lived in several different houses that he built in the Bluffton area, but they eventually built Vannyes dream house in the Beachwood neighborhood in the late 1960s. The house was always well kept, and although the girls were not allowed in the living room they were known to sneak in there to get a piece of candy from the candy bowls. Vannye loved entertaining and had many parties at her house through the years. She also enjoyed celebrating birthdays with her Birthday group. There was nothing Vannye treasured more than her family. She was a wonderful mother who was very involved in the lives of her children. Vannye was active in the school PTO and helped out with their Brownie troop. She was a talented seamstress who made matching dresses for herself and the girls. Vannye taught her girls to be ladies and made sure they learned proper etiquette, too. As a family they loved taking Sunday drives around Michigan just to go to dinner, and they were usually gone all day. There were also road trips to Florida with frequent stops at Stuckeys and at all the educational sites along the way. Throughout her life Vannye was a bustle of activity and a vital part of her community. She was a member of the CAM Club and the Muskegon Service League for many years, she volunteered at the Nearly New Shop and at Hackley Hospital, and she was member of Friends of Art. Vannye was a member of a bridge club for over 50 years, and together she and Bill were members at the Muskegon Country Club where Vannye played on the ladies league and also on the couples league with her husband. She and Bill were very social people, and over the years there were many vacations with friends out West, to Florida and Hilton Head, and to other destinations as well. During their retirement years, Vannye and Bill wintered in Pensacola, Florida, for several years. With a love for shopping, she frequently went to Grand Rapids to visit Jacobsons and other unique stores. Vannye also liked going to art fairs and made regular visits to fairs in Charlevoix and St. Joseph. In 2008, Vannye was deeply saddened with Bills death. Although this was a difficult time, she continued on with the help of family and friends. Vannye kept busy and often went out to dinner with the Survivors, a group of friends who had also lost their spouses. She remained close to her daughters and grandchildren, and she talked to her daughters almost daily. Birthdays and holidays were important to Vannye, and gathering the family together whenever possible was always a priority. She loved her sons-in-law as if they were her own and was delighted to be a grandmother. Vannye loved watching the birds and always kept the bird feeders full. She especially loved seeing the cardinals Eventually, the years took their toll and Vannye started having some health issues. She fought the good fight, but although her spirit was willing her body could no longer keep fighting. With unending love for those around her, Vannye DuChane was such an extraordinary woman. She was deeply devoted to the people and community she cherished, and she was always accompanied by a warm smile that drew others near with ease. Vannyes daughters were so proud to have her as their mother, and the bond they had as a family was unmatched. Deeply treasured, she will be forever missed. Vannye Lee DuChane died on Wednesday, April 8, 2015. Vannyes family includes her daughters, Cynthia (William) Buck of Muskegon, Suzette (Blair) Hotz of East Grand Rapids; grandchildren, Kyle (Jen) Buck, Cameron Buck & Blair Hotz II; many nieces and nephews; in-laws, Charles Becker, Mary Brown, Sharon Brown; and many good friends. Vannye was preceded in death by her husband, William, and all of her siblings. A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2015, 12:00 noon with visitation one hour prior to the service at the Muskegon Country Club. Memorials can be made to Harbor Hospice Poppen House. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.