Joyce Bierens ’54 French

Joyce Marie Bierens French was born in Kalamazoo on August 25, 1932 to Cornelius W. Bierens Jr. of Kalamazoo and Janet M. Dornbos of Grand Haven. She moved to Grand Rapids at age 7, graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High School in 1950, attended Calvin College and graduated from Hope College in 1954 where she was a member of Sigma Sigma sorority.

She was a member of Central Reformed Church while growing up and Mayflower Congregational Church later in life. Joyce worked as a social worker at Butterworth and Blodgett Hospitals and at D.A. Blodgett Homes for Children.

In 1961, she married O. Nathan French. She is survived by her husband, sons Reginald S. (Jane) and William C. (Jennifer Dawson) and grandchildren Allison, Madeleine, Grace, Emily and Liam. Joyce was an early member of the Grand Rapids Ski Club where she passed her love of skiing on to her family. She was also a member of the Alexander Campbell Guild at Blodgett Hospital, the Child Haven Guild and the Priscilla Circle at Mayflower CC. She helped Nate start and run the family business and did an exceptional job keeping the books. Spending time at the family cottage with friends and family brought her great joy.