Alice Douma

Alice Douma was born on October 5, 1930, to Jake and Jennie Harmsen in Hawarden, lowa. She was the fifth of 8 children: Mathilda (Til) Riepma, Benjamin, Richard, John, Cynthia Van Dyk, Jacob Jr, and Geneva Andriese. Geneva is her only surviving sibling.

Alice met Henry (Hank) at a church roller skating party in Long Beach. Love at first sight! They were engaged 9 months later. They married on August 16, 1950 at the First Christian Reformed Church in Artesia CA. God blessed them with 54 years of marriage, 5 children Larry, Charles, Beverly (Vander Tuig), Henry and Valerie (Struiksma), 15 grandchildren and 45 great grandchildren!

Henry & Alice lived 15 years in Artesia and then in 1965 made the move to Ontario, CA with their 5 children. They bought a house on Locust St and lived there for 38 years. Henry was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and Alice was his caretaker for several years. As his Parkinson's progressed it was time for him to move into Skilled Nursing at Inland Christian Home. This was a very difficult time for Alice, and she wanted to be as close to him as possible, so she made the hard decision to sell their house and move into an apartment at Inland. She was a devoted wife and spent many hours sitting at his bedside. In 2004 Henry went home to be with his Savior. Alice lived a total of 17 years in her apartment. On Sundays, she always had a cake baked or some type of goodie ready as she anticipated her kids, grandkids and great grandkids to stop by after church on Sunday mornings for "coffee time".

In 2020 her own health started declining and it was time for her to move into Assisted Living. This was a rough move for her and the family. Due to Covid we were not able to visit, and she became very lonely. After about a year she was moved into Skilled Nursing. On her last birthday, the nurses were able to move her into the "Sunshine Room" and many of her family members were there to visit her. She absolutely loved it!

Putting 5 children through Ontario Christian School was a priority and a sacrifice. Alice worked many different jobs over the years. Some of her jobs included working at Artesia Hospital, a chicken ranch, selling Amway, the school cafeteria, cleaning classrooms and working at the Tupperware Warehouse. She also volunteered at the Thrift Store.

Alice and Henry enjoyed many years of camping with their friends. They started out with a tent, then purchased a trailer and finally had a motorhome. Some of her favorite trips were to Canada, Glacier Park and Huntington Lake. She even had some run-ins with bears! Her least favorite trip was a Cruise around the Hawaiian Islands. This was when she realized how incredibly sea sick she gets!

Other hobbies that she enjoyed were doing puzzles, crossword puzzles, reading, bowling, cards (Canasta) and of course. Tuesday afternoon playing Quiddler. Many years ago, she was a Calvinette Counselor and in her later years she enjoyed going to Mary Martha. She attended church at First United Reformed Church in Chino and missed being able to attend in her last years.

Alice loved to watch her children, grandchildren and even a few great grandchildren play ball. During the Holidays she would let the grandkids come over and bake and decorate cookies.

Alice, Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, and Great Great Grandma will be missed by many. For many years she longed to be taken up to Heaven, but God had other plans for her. She waited patiently for her turn to go. She never complained but she did wonder "What purpose can I still fill?" She was willing to do the Lord's work, even when she didn't know what it was. We have true comfort in knowing she is now in Heaven with her Lord and Savior.

What is your only comfort in life and death?

That I am not my own but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head. Indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for him.

A committal service for Alice will be held Tuesday, July 16, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA 92518.