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Tena Dykxhoorn
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Tena (Teuntje) Dykxhoorn, 95, passed away peacefully on Aug. 24 at the Alexander Cohen Hospice House in Hughson.

She was born on Feb. 19, 1916 in Delft, the Netherlands to Martinus de Lange and Willemijntje de Lange-van Rij. In 1941 she married Dirk Dykxhoorn and in 1947 they immigrated to the United States with their four children. They first settled in Kalamazoo, MI where Dirk found work at the local paper factory. It was there that their fifth child was born. Early in 1950 the family moved to Park City, MT after a brief period of eight months the family moved to Escalon. Three more children were born to make the total of eight children, five girls and three boys.

Mrs. Dykxhoorn was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved being a stay at home mom, and supported her husband in all of his endeavors through times of hardship and times of good and plenty. Being the ultimate host, she welcomed any and all that came for a visit. With an adventurous spirit, she was very energetic in her role as a mother. Not idle, she learned to drive and got her driver's license at the age of 60. Above all she was a child of God and loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Mrs. Dykxhoorn was a strong influence on all of her children, and inspired them with her acts of kindness and humility, to love God, and never be ashamed of the Gospel. She was blessed with a remarkable long and happy life, other than the effects of Alzheimer's that deprived her of her final years. Her eldest daughter Rena took her into her home for the past 13 years, and cared for her, for which the family is truly thankful and grateful.

Survivors include her children, Rena (Sidney) Poot of Oakdale, Tony (Marie) Dykxhoorn of Sonora, Wilma (Pete) Vis of Sunnyside WA, Mary (Pete) Mensonides of Modesto, Elizabeth (Jim) Bellin of Ripon, Marinus Dykxhoorn of Hawthorne NV, Rick (Donna) Dykxhoorn of Escalon; and 35 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

She was preceded by her husband Dirk in 1982; daughter Annie in 2005; granddaughter Cynthia Vis in 1974; and her eight siblings.

The family would like to thank Lenneke Bulk for sitting with Tena a few hours every Friday for the last 16 months. And also a heartfelt thank you to the Hospice Staff. Memorial contributions can be made to Community Hospice, 4368 Spyres Way, Modesto, CA 95356, or to Ripon Christian School.

Services were held on Monday, Aug. 29; with a graveside service at Burwood Cemetery and memorial services at Escalon Christian Reformed Church.

Arrangements by Deegan Funeral Chapel; there is an online guest book available for you to share your condolences and memories with the family at www.deeganfuneralchapels.com.

The Escalon (Calif.) Times

Aug. 31, 2011