Laurel Catherine (Anderson) Hoolsema, age 90, of Rudyard, Michigan, died at her home on February 12, 2024. She was born on March 13, 1933, in Rudyard, to Hugh Douglas and Mary Elizabeth (Nettleton) Anderson.
Laurel was born at home, the eldest of eight children. She became much more than the “big sister” to her siblings, especially to her “little brothers,” Herman and Harold. She met Donald “Don” John Hoolsema, and they married on October 16, 1951, in Marquette, Michigan. She devoted her heart into being a Dutch farmer’s wife and helped with all types of chores. Laurel loved visitors and her specialty was fixing meals for eight or thirty people with Aplomb. She also worked at Rudyard schools as a library aide and a cook where she became an honorary “grandma” to countless children.
Laurel loved cooking, baking, gardening, sewing, reading, poetry, and word searches. She took up hobbies like ceramics, upholstery, sewing, and cake decorating classes with her good friend and sister-in-law, Ruth. She enjoyed singing and her lovely soprano voice was requested at weddings, as well as her cakes. Her home was referred to as the ‘Hoolsema Hotel’ where she entertained, housed, and fed hundreds of people during her life.
Laurel is survived by her daughter, Beth (Don Mattingly) Hoolsema of Tarpon Springs, Florida; sons, Douglas (Bonnie) Hoolsema of Peck, Michigan, Donald (Judy) Hoolsema of Delton, Michigan, Steven (Heidi) Hoolsema of Rudyard, Keith (Michele) Hoolsema of Rudyard, and Mark (Katy) Hoolsema of Rudyard; grandchildren, Jeanne, Jason, John, Angela, Jessica, Liz, Samantha, Shawn, Art, Cristy, J.D., Amy, Steven Jr., David, and Katrina; sisters, Ferne (Jim, deceased) Sutton, Pearl (Wally, deceased) Bennett, and Violet (Bill) Dale; brothers, Hugh (Julie) Anderson, Herman (Olive) Anderson, and Harold (Judy) Anderson; and many beloved great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Laurel was preceded in death by her husband, Don; parents, Hugh and Mary; sister, Grace Smith Lucas; and sister-in-law Ruth Anderson.
A Visitation will be held on Friday, February 16th from 11:00AM – 1:00PM at Family Life Funeral Homes – Pickford, 24549 S. M-129, Pickford, Michigan 49774. The Funeral Service will follow immediately at 1:00PM.
Final Resting Place will be at the Cottle Cemetery in Pickford, Michigan, in Spring 2024.
Condolences may be left to the family at www.familylifefh.com.
