Harriet Dyke

VAN DYKE - Harriet Jean Van Dyke, age 84, of Howard City, Michigan, quietly passed away on December 19, 2019 with her family present, after a 4 year battle with cancer. Born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 9, 1935, she was the youngest of Harry and Emma (Bosley) Hall's four children. Following the death of her parents, at age three, she was adopted by her Uncle Walter and Aunt Lucile (Bosley) Myers, along with her older brother, William. She attended and resided at Marywood Academy, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, graduating in June 1953. She met her future husband, Martin J. Van Dyke in the summer of 1948, at the age of 13. She was working at Blodgett Camp at Pine Island Lake. He attempted to help her cut firewood; but instead of cutting the wood, the hatchet went into his knee. They kept in touch after that accident and began dating when she was 16. They were married on August 1st, 1953. Their first baby daughter, Mary, was stillborn on February 19,1954. She felt blessed that 1 year later, she had twin girls, Karen (Harold) Cirino and Sharon (Paul) MacDonald. She had 6 more children after the twins: two more girls, Cathy [Bierling] (Steve) Young and Sandra (Jon) Lytle followed by four sons Martin Jr. (Sharon), Steven (Mary), Michael (Melissa) and Daniel (Heather). Harriet was preceded in death by both sets of parents; sisters, Beverly (Hall) Gorzynski, Marie LaVonne (Myers) Hall, and Bonita (Myers) Melin; brother, William Myers; mother-in-law, Edna Van Dyke; brother-in law, Peter Van Dyke; nephew, John Gorzynski; son-in-law, Richard Bierling; grand-daughter, Kristine Marie Lytle and great-grand son, Andrew Josiah Bierling. Harriet is survived by her husband of 66 years, Martin; her eight children and their spouses; sisters-in-law, Bernice Van Dyke and Nancy Myers; cousin, Ralph Eugene Labelle; 25 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Harriet's whole life was dedicated to her family. She would take any and every opportunity to gather the family together. She took a special interest in each and everyone. She made every birthday and Christmas special! At Christmastime, she would don her Santa cap to pass out presents. She did research on her family ancestry for several years. She especially liked researching her mother's (Bosley) side of the family. Her creativity was over the top from decorating the church all-purpose room for a New Year's Eve party to making Halloween costumes for which she won many a 1st prize. Every occasion was always a success! She wasn't much of a seamstress, but give her a glue gun and it was magical what she could do! She did work part time for Hallmark Greeting Cards, then Michigan Bulb Company. Many of the beautiful flowers were purchased for her garden at Michigan Bulb. She loved her flower garden and planted annuals every year. After she retired from Michigan Bulb, she started a new hobby called "EBAY"! She especially liked to sell books, and she became quite the expert. She loved to go "picking" at garage sales and estate sales. She also loved auctions, often going to them with her daughters. Harriet's family will greet visitors 2:00 to 5:00 PM Sunday, December 22 at Stegenga Funeral Chapel, 1601 Post Drive NE, Belmont, MI 49306 and one hour prior to mass at the church on Monday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 AM Monday, December 23 at Christ the King Catholic Church, 9596 Reed Road, Howard City, MI. Harriet wishes are for cremation and then burial at a future date at the Assumption Catholic Church Cemetery, in Belmont, MI. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. To share a photo, memory and sign the family's online guestbook please visit www.stegengafuneralchapel.com To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Harriet Jean Van Dyke please visit our Sympathy Store.