Sally, Sara Jane (Northouse) de Vries

May 17, 1940 - March 9, 2026

Sally lived more lives in almost 86 years than many could dream, always a musician, a teacher and a helper, and constantly true to her faith.

Sally graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School and Calvin College, where she played basketball and perfected her beloved skills in music. Though she began by learning piano and violin, Sally is known for her skill as a double bass player, which she shared through her final Calvin Alumni Orchestra performance in 2020. She performed as a contract musician in orchestras including Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra, and Boston Women's Symphony, supporting her growing family while her husband Bert completed his doctoral degree at Brandeis University before becoming a professor at Calvin College.

Always a teacher, Sally taught Sunday School at Calvin Church, English and French at Grand Rapids Christian High, and third and fifth grades at American Community School in Amman, Jordan. Meanwhile, she educated her four children and later sixteen grandchildren. Having taught water sports as a summer camp counselor at Interlochen Center for the Arts in northern Michigan, she taught her children and all their friends to swim, canoe, sail and water ski. She was a fantastic skier in her own right.

Bert's vocation as an archaeologist drew Bert and Sally to Jordan. In 1972, with four young children in tow, they drove a Volkswagen bus from the Netherlands to Jordan to serve Palestinian refugees displaced by war with Christian Reformed World Relief Committee. Their inauspicious adventures became an over 50-year relationship with their beloved second home.

Sally developed enduring friendships in Jordan and a heartfelt passion for local culture. Accompanying her dear friend, Widad Kawar, she cultivated expertise in the distinctive textiles of the Levant. Traveling throughout the region, with frequent trips to Jerusalem and Damascus, Sally amassed a remarkable museum collection of antique costumes which she exhibited and lectured on for decades, preserving a culture at risk of disappearance.

Meticulous by nature, Sally was a serial administrator; of her family, including Tara, Tanya, Jenna and Guy Peter; of the American Center of Research in Jordan while Bert was Director there in the late 1980's; and of Bert's archaeological excavations in Umm Al-Jimāl, handling logistics for scores of Calvin students, local and foreign experts, and local site workers. Bert and Sally, working as a team, created the impetus for the eventual inscription of Umm Al-Jimāl as a UNESCO World Heritage site, continually advocating for Peace in the region.

Sally and Bert nurtured sincere family, academic, and faith relationships at home in both Jordan and Grand Rapids, and across the USA and Canada.

Sally is known in Grand Rapids as the Realtor who sold so many young couples their first home, and older couples their last. She knew every little street in Grand Rapids and could give detailed description of each house. Her clients would say that Real Estate was less of a profession for Sally than a calling to help people. Professionally, she chose real estate over music for its flexible schedule that allowed her to be present for her growing children and grandchildren. She was always available to read books, recite silly poems, patch wounds, correct grammar, and edit and type term papers.

Sally's enthusiasm and joyfulness was infectious. Her deep sense of integrity stemmed from her profound faith. She was proud to be a charter member of Calvin Church. Following in the footsteps of Jesus led Sally to be of service in her very being, from the early work with refugees, to cultural heritage preservation, to serving as a deacon and elder of the church, to her constant care for aging friends and other residents at Raybrook Manor of the Holland Home. When it was her turn to rely on Raybrook, she was already well known there, where her lifelong ministry of encouragement, gratitude, and joy endured.

Even as she sought peace, may she rest in peace.

Sally is survived by:

Patricia (Northouse) and Terrance Hammink; Peter and Laurel Northouse; Roger Brummel. Tara (de Vries) and Rob Cahill; Tanya (de Vries) and Paul Bulthuis; Jenna (de Vries) and Michael Morton; Guy and Ann de Vries; Nathan, Aryn and Dylan Cahill; Sunshine and Ani de Vries Tanus; John and Michelle Cahill; Linnaea Cahill; Kobe Jane; Calvin Bulthuis and Lea Legardeur; Thomas Bulthuis, Serena Hamman, Luca and Mateo Bulthuis; Joel Bulthuis; Eli, Pierre and Petra Morton; Margaret de Vries; Jacob and Claire de Vries; and Maria, Katrina, and Joe de Vries.

Sally's family welcomes all to remember her life of faith, hope, love and joy.

Visitation will be held at Calvin Church, 700 Ethel Street, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506. https://www.calvin-church.com/

on Friday, March 13, 5:30-7:00 pm. The memorial service will be held at the church on Saturday, March 14, at 11:00 a.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Visiting and a light lunch will follow the service.

The service will be livestreamed:  https://www.youtube.com/@calvinchurchgr)

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to:

Calvin Church Benevolence Fund (https://secure.myvanco.com/L-ZHRZ/campaign/C-1496N)

or

American Center of Research's Bert and Sally de Vries Fellowship (https://acorjordan.org/named-fellowships/de-vries-fellowship/ ).