Holly LeBlanc ’96

Holly LeBlanc ’96 of Holland, Michigan, exchanged her wheels for wings on Friday, July 21, 2017.

She was born Dec. 31, 1972. She graduated from Holland High School in 1991 (Go Dutch!) where she acquired a love of theater, a passion for people and a tribe of friends that became family. She was the youngest of four spirited sisters and learned early on that if she wanted to be heard, she would have to be bold and loud. She accomplished this in an incredibly contagious way and everywhere she went, she sported her big heart, big hair and a big smile. She attended Taylor University and Hope College and graduated with a degree in religion and theater from Hope in 1995. Her love of people and story prompted her to attend grad school and she obtained her master’s degree in counseling in 2004. She used her gifts, wise mentoring spirit and her faith in the Lord to encourage hundreds of people throughout her 20-year employment/ ministry at Central Wesleyan Church and her strong online presence. The story of her life has spread far and wide because she accomplished this and so much more, having battled ulcerative colitis, a neurological disability called Friedreich’s Ataxia, and in her last six months, a diagnosis of terminal breast cancer. The biblical character, Job had nothing on her, yet she never lost her faith and found an inspiring message from the mess, a testimony through the test.

It would honor her life greatly that you’d remember when going through hard things that there is always purpose in the pain. She found hers early on and became an ambassador and advocate for the FA community and ambassador of HOPE for her savior and best friend Jesus Christ.

She is survived by her loving parents who have never left her side, Rich and Sharon LeBlanc; three older sisters, Cherie Ockerse (Robert), Alex,

Carolyn, Chase and Cole; Christy Boeve (Ken), Kennedy and Brecken; Lauri Denhof (Dave), TJ, Jagger, Kaia and Danika; who can’t imagine living this life without her, and her laid back service dog, Barkley.

She is preceded in death by her first service dog, Delsie.

Visitation will be held at Central Wesleyan Church on Tuesday, July 25, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. (Please use entrance A). A celebration of her life is scheduled at the church on Wednesday, July 26, at 1 p.m. (Please use entrance A).

Memorial contributions may be made to FARA (Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance / cureFA.org) and Hospice of Holland (hollandhospice. org).

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels-a plentiful harvest of new lives.”

John 12:24 NLT Please visit lakeshorememorial. com for to leave a message or memory for the LeBlancfamily.

 

. She was 44. She
was employed for 20 years at Central Wesleyan
Church. Survivors include her parents, Rich
(Sharon Dykstra ’64) LeBlanc; and sisters,
Cherie (Robert) Ockerse, Christy (Ken) Boeve
and Lauri (Dave) Denhof.

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