Cecelia De Stigter

Cecelia De Stigter, 93, of Escondido, California, formerly of Sioux Center, Iowa, died Friday, November 11, 2011. A memorial prayer service will be held in Escondido, Ca. on Thursday, Nov. 17th at 5:00pm at the Alhiser-Comer Funeral Chapel. A funeral service will be held on Monday, November 21st at 2PM the First Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Mark Verbruggen officiating. Visitation with the family present will be held from 1-2PM on Monday, November 21st at the First Christian Reformed Church. Interment will follow the funeral service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. The De Stigter family prefers memorials may be directed to Dordt College. Cecelia was born April 1, 1918 in Doon, Iowa to Theo and Pearl Vander Spoel, and was also baptized in the Christian Reformed Church in Doon. She attended the Hull Christian School, Western Christian Academy and Western Union College in Le Mars, Iowa where she earned her teaching certificate. She married Gilbert De Stigter (deceased) in April, 1938. They had two sons, Roger and Vincent. They made their home in Sioux Center, Iowa and were members of the First Christian Reformed Church. She taught catechism, Sunday school and was a member of the Golden Hour Circle. She served on the Sioux Center Community Library Board and was also active in the Republican Party. She enjoyed reading, doing crafts, and crocheting. She spent several years teaching school and later worked in the physical therapy department in the Sioux Center Hospital. For many years she and her sister, Emma, entertained Dordt College students in their homes for Sunday dinner. She was also a loving caregiver for her husband who suffered from Alzheimer's disease for many years. She lived in Sioux Center all of her life until 2006 when she moved to Escondido, California because of health reasons. She loved being involved with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, and she was able to share many happy events in their lives. She is survived by her two sons: Roger and Harriet De Stigter of Escondido, CA, Vincent and Jeanette De Stigter of Pioneer, CA; 10 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren; one brother, Arnold and Jackie Vander Spoel of Fort Meyers Beach, FL; two brothers in law: Leonard and Ella De Stigter of Sioux Center, Cornelius and Penny De Stigter of Detroit, MI; four sisters-in-law: Lucille and Norman Poele of Grand Rapids, MI, Florence Calsbeek of Orange City, Elaine De Stigter of Grand Rapids, MI, Henrietta Brouwer of Hull, and many nieces and nephews.