Alice Mae DeVries passed away and went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, July 19, 2026. Alice was born in Imlay City, Michigan, on June 23, 1939 to Gerritt VanDyk, an immigrant farmer, and his wife Hennrieta, formerly a Monsma from the big city of Grand Rapids.

Alice hated working in the muck fields but loved school at the one-room schoolhouse. She dreamed of growing up to become a missionary in some distant land. She went to Calvin College, where she met and married Bob DeVries.

In 1972, her dreams came true when Bob and Alice left for the Philippines with their four children. In just over 6 years of ministry there, Alice started a kindergarten and developed a program for foreign nationals to foster sickly children from the orphanage, facilitating healthy adoptions and forever homes. The house was always full of children, some who stayed (two children were adopted while in the Philippines) and some who passed through with love.

Late in 1978, the family moved back to the States and eventually to Kentucky, California, and finally Jackson, Michigan. Alice worked in daycare and as a Kindergarten teacher. Along with Bob, she fostered several children and eventually adopted five more. She was a tireless advocate for foster care, adoption, and children with special needs.

After Bob's death, Alice and the five youngest children moved back to Grand Rapids, where she continued to care for her kids, advocate for those with special needs, and be involved in the life of the church.

She's predeceased by her husband Robert, her son, Tim, and her granddaughter Angela. Survived by her children Dan (Dahiana), Paul (Diane), Mary (Joel), Kristina, Michelle (DuVaughn), Julianne, Bobby, Carolyn, Kassie (Phoenix), and Brian. And her grandchildren, Narmina, Vanessa, Kayla, Krista, Taylor, Paige, Alicia, Takiya, Jalina, Catherine, Dylan, Alyssa, Nyla, Jenifer, Jenna, Ahja, Azarihana, Liam, and Kenai. Also, her great-grandchildren Maya, Quincy, Chance, Devri, and Genesis.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, July 23, 2026 at Brookside CRC, 3600 Kalamazoo SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508. Visitation will be held from 5-8 pm on Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at Brookside CRC.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to David's House Ministries.