Angie Van Hoven – A Legacy of Caring
Angie Van Hoven spent her 101-year lifetime caring for others. Her legacy of caring continues through her estate gift to the Porter Hills Foundation's Benevolent Care Fund.
“Angie was raised to help other people and to be supportive of the community where she lived,” says Angie’s long-time friend and Power of Attorney, Diane Hyland. “She just always cared deeply about people and wanted to leave her money to help others.”
Angie grew up on a farm in Zeeland, Michigan and graduated from Zeeland High School in 1937. In 1940, she graduated from Blodgett School of Nursing and served in the Army Reserve Nurse Corps during World War II. Angie later became a visiting nurse and was the Director of the Visiting Nurse Association in Holland, Michigan from 1952 to 1956.
She met her husband, Richard, at Faith Reformed Church in Zeeland, where she was a charter member. Together, the couple owned and operated Woodhaven Skilled Nursing Home in Zeeland which still exists as the Heritage Nursing Home.
“I have known Angie since I was a small child and lived in her neighborhood,” says Diane. “Angie and Richard never had children of their own. Angie liked my friend and me because we were well-behaved girls,” Diane says with a laugh.
Their friendship grew over the next 50+ years. When Diane began working as a trust officer in a bank, Angie became her client. As her POA, Diane took care of Angie’s daily and medical needs. “She was a very special lady in my life.”
Eventually, Angie moved to Porter Hills where her aunt had also lived. (Her aunt lived to be over 100 as well!) “She could have stayed in Zeeland, but Porter Hills meant a lot to Angie because of the loving care her aunt received there,” says Diane.
During the nearly 30 years she lived at Porter Hills, Angie was served through its continuum of care, from independent living at Cook Valley Estates, to assisted living at Porter Hills Village, and, for the past two years, at Porter Hills’ Green House® Homes where she received skilled nursing care. “Angie loved Porter Hills,” says Diane. “She could have been a salesperson for the organization!”
“Caring for others was always so important to Angie,” Diane says of her friend who also established a scholarship fund at The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area for local public school graduates who want to become nurses. “Approximately 80 young people have become nurses so far, thanks to Angie,” Diane says.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed May 2021 as Leave a Legacy month for the State of Michigan to emphasize the importance of “making a difference in the lives that follow.” To learn more about leaving your own lasting legacy, contact:
Joanna Hogan Melissa Goodson
Vice President of Philanthropy Major Gifts Officer
Porter Hills Foundation UMRC Foundation
e-mail: jhogan@porterhills.org mgoodson@umrc.com
Ph: 616.460.6924. 734-417-9018
Angie Van Hoven spent her 101-year lifetime caring for others. Her legacy of caring continues through her estate gift to the Porter Hills Foundation's Benevolent Care Fund.
“Angie was raised to help other people and to be supportive of the community where she lived,” says Angie’s long-time friend and Power of Attorney, Diane Hyland. “She just always cared deeply about people and wanted to leave her money to help others.”
Angie grew up on a farm in Zeeland, Michigan and graduated from Zeeland High School in 1937. In 1940, she graduated from Blodgett School of Nursing and served in the Army Reserve Nurse Corps during World War II. Angie later became a visiting nurse and was the Director of the Visiting Nurse Association in Holland, Michigan from 1952 to 1956.
She met her husband, Richard, at Faith Reformed Church in Zeeland, where she was a charter member. Together, the couple owned and operated Woodhaven Skilled Nursing Home in Zeeland which still exists as the Heritage Nursing Home.
“I have known Angie since I was a small child and lived in her neighborhood,” says Diane. “Angie and Richard never had children of their own. Angie liked my friend and me because we were well-behaved girls,” Diane says with a laugh.
Their friendship grew over the next 50+ years. When Diane began working as a trust officer in a bank, Angie became her client. As her POA, Diane took care of Angie’s daily and medical needs. “She was a very special lady in my life.”
Eventually, Angie moved to Porter Hills where her aunt had also lived. (Her aunt lived to be over 100 as well!) “She could have stayed in Zeeland, but Porter Hills meant a lot to Angie because of the loving care her aunt received there,” says Diane.
During the nearly 30 years she lived at Porter Hills, Angie was served through its continuum of care, from independent living at Cook Valley Estates, to assisted living at Porter Hills Village, and, for the past two years, at Porter Hills’ Green House® Homes where she received skilled nursing care. “Angie loved Porter Hills,” says Diane. “She could have been a salesperson for the organization!”
“Caring for others was always so important to Angie,” Diane says of her friend who also established a scholarship fund at The Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area for local public school graduates who want to become nurses. “Approximately 80 young people have become nurses so far, thanks to Angie,” Diane says.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed May 2021 as Leave a Legacy month for the State of Michigan to emphasize the importance of “making a difference in the lives that follow.” To learn more about leaving your own lasting legacy, contact:
Joanna Hogan Melissa Goodson
Vice President of Philanthropy Major Gifts Officer
Porter Hills Foundation UMRC Foundation
e-mail: jhogan@porterhills.org mgoodson@umrc.com
Ph: 616.460.6924. 734-417-9018