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Ali Anna Riddering (Drijver), 90, died peacefully on December 4, 2012. A resident of Ionia, MI, formerly of Salem, MI and Santpoort, The Netherlands, Ali was a lifelong biologist, wife, mother, and friend. Born in Velsen, The Netherlands on April 26, 1922, she spent her childhood between Santpoort and the island of Texel. After enduring World War II, she continued her education in biology at the University of Amsterdam, where she met the love of her life Donald Lee Riddering. They were married in Den Hoorn on the island of Texel on December 19, 1950. In a letter to her yet-to-be-met in-laws on December 11, 1950, Ali wrote "To be quite honest, I must confess that in the beginning I was a bit afraid of going away from Holland to a new strange country with unknown people. But now the U.S. are no longer strange country to me, and the people not unknown. I want you to know how grateful I am for the warm welcome you gave in your letters. And you must know, too, that I am the happiest girl in the world to be Don's bride." Don and Ali returned to Michigan in 1952 with their oldest daughter, eventually moving to Salem where the rest of their daughters were born and raised. Ali's respect for life and nature was always evident in organic gardening, bread making, and caring for her family. She honored her roots by operating the Dutch Craft Shop from her Salem home, featuring the pewter, delftware, and arts she loved from Holland. She is survived by: daughters Martha (Brad) Segura of Breaux Bridge, LA, Julie (Dave) Worthington of Portland, MI, Emily (Randy) Mattran of Chanhassen, MN, and Hannah Riddering of Austin, TX; grandchildren Alison Segura, Tim (Katie) Mattran, Kelly Mattran, Kate (Kevin) McCarthy, Andrew (Jen) Tavis; great-grandchildren Ava and Morgan McCarthy, Maggie Tavis; sister-in-law Mary (Chuck) Beyette of Cass City, MI; brother-in-law Albert Riddering of San Juan PR; sister-in-law Alice Drijver-Kamp and nieces Marjon and Karin of the Netherlands; numerous relatives and friends in the U.S. and the Netherlands. She was preceded in death by her husband, Don, her parents Jan and Grietje Drijver and her brother Dick Drijver. A memorial service celebrating the lives of Ali and Don Riddering will be planned for in the spring. Donations in Ali's name may be made to Ionia Area Hospice, 601 E. Washington St.; Ionia, MI 48846 or the Salem Area Historical Society, P.O. Box 75011; Salem, MI 48175. The family would like to thank the staff of Green Acres Assisted Living and Ionia Area Hospice for the loving care provided during her last three years. Lang zal ze leven in de gloria (Long will she live in glory).
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5 Entries
Our thoughts are with the family, we will miss Aunt Ali, always caring and loving and she will not be forgotten.
dear greets from Claudia and Johan Lanning-Vicol
claudia and johan Lanning- vicol
January 19, 2013
Dear family, we, Jan and Gerdy Lanning, will remember us uncle Donald and aunt Ali with love, as dear interested family. We shared many happy moments with them and they with us as Lanning-family, when they were in the Netherlands. For example, some 20 years ago they invited us (Lanning-family from Sleen Drenthe) for a long weekend at Orvelthe. It was a lovely and warm and interesting weekend, all of us enjoyed ourselves. We are very grateful of meeting and knowing uncle Donald and aunt Ali. We wish you, their children and grandchildren, love and strength, to live on. With love, Jan and Gerdy Lanning from Zuidlaren in the Netherlands.
January 9, 2013
My sympathy to the Family. Ali was our dear friend we treasured her friendship.
Nico Akemann
December 28, 2012
We in the Netherlands America University League in Ann Arbor remember Ali and Don Riddering with great affection. They were stalwarts in our Dutch club. Our condolences to the family.
karla vandersypen
December 23, 2012
To the Riddering family:
My deepest sympathies for the loss of Ali Anna. May God's Word strengthen you during this difficult time. (Isa. 41:10,13)
T Crawford
December 22, 2012
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