Francine DeBruin

University Park. (Betty) Francine DeBruin, 83, of University Park, died Friday, May 6, 2011, at the Mahaska Hospital in Oskaloosa. She was born on July 10, 1927, at Oskaloosa, the daughter of Lloyd and Jeanette Denburger Patrick. She graduated from the Oskaloosa High School. Following school she went to work at the Mahaska County Hospital as a Nurses Aide. Later she worked at the Oskaloosa Public Library. On October 26, 1951, she was united in marriage to Paul DeBruin at Oskaloosa; he died February 15, 2011. Following their marriage she was a homemaker. Early in life she was very involved in theatre and orchestra, she had a lifelong love for music. She also enjoyed tending to her plants and flowers. She delighted in spending time with her family, her daughter, son in law, grandchildren and great grandson where the light of her life. She was a member of the Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa, and sang in the sextet there for many years. She was also a former member of Mahaska Hospice Auxiliary.

Her family includes, a daughter and her husband: Jean and Leroy Sytsma of University Park; two grandsons: Mike (& Stacey) Sytsma and Matt Sytsma (& fiancée Holly Anderson); a great grandson: Dawson Sytsma; a brother and his wife: Glenn and Mildred Patrick of Oskaloosa; a brother in law and his wife: Ralph and Wilma DeBruin of Oskaloosa; and a sister in law and her husband: Doretha and Homer Hasselman of Oskaloosa; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; a brother in law: Lawrence “Larry” DeBruin; and a nephew: Rodney Patrick.

Graveside funeral services and burial for Francine DeBruin, will be held Tuesday, May 10, 2011, at 11 a.m. in the University Park Cemetery at University Park, with Reverends Don DeGlopper officiating. A procession will form at 10:35 Tuesday morning at the Bates Funeral Chapel for those wishing to attend the graveside service. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Open visitation will begin Monday after 12 noon and continue until 6:30 p.m. at the Bates Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers please make memorials to the Francine DeBruin Memorial Fund.

Source: Bates Funeral Chapel