Thelma Avonne Zevenbergen

Thelma Avonne Zevenbergen of Yucaipa passed away at the age of 83 on July 1, 2017 after suffering a massive stroke.  She was born on April 23, 1934 in Beaumont, Texas, to Reverend Wesley and Mary (Kuiper) Prince.  In 1954, she married Gene Zevenbergen in Sibley, Iowa.  They moved to California in 1958, living briefly in Victorville prior to moving to Redlands.  In 1967, they moved permanently to Yucaipa.  Avonne loved all types of music, her favorites being country and gospel.  She was a talented soprano in her church choir and sang many solos and duets at weddings and other functions.  For many years, she was an organist at Highland Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Redlands, and also gave piano and organ lessons.  She served as a teacher’s aide for special needs students at Dunlap Elementary School for several years, and was secretary for the Yucaipa Presbyterian Church until she retired.  In her later years, she was a very active volunteer at Redlands Community Hospital.  Avonne was a voracious reader, loved doing crossword puzzles, playing board games, camping with church friends, shopping, talking, traveling, and spending time with her grandchildren. 
Avonne is survived by her husband of 63 years, Gene Zevenbergen of Yucaipa; son Curtis Zevenbergen of Yucaipa and his wife Jeri; daughter Mary Dillard of Cedar Hill, Tennessee and her husband Harold; granddaughter Karen Halks of Vacaville, California and her husband Forrest; grandson John Zevenbergen of Cheyenne, Wyoming; granddaughter Laura Zevenbergen of Yucaipa; great-grandson Aaron Halks of Vacaville, California; sister Mary De Young of Sanborn, Iowa; brother Robert Prince of Grand Rapids, Michigan and his wife Connie; sister Evelyn Scholten of Jenison, Michigan and her husband Elmer; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.  Avonne will be remembered for her love for God, adventurous spirit, generous heart, ready smile, and her eagerness to chat with anyone and everyone.  Her voice will be dearly missed. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 15, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at The River Christian Reformed Church – 459 E. Highland Avenue, Redlands, CA 92373.  Any donations in her memory may be made to MCCA (Mexican Christian Children’s Aid) – P.O. Box 9931, Redlands, CA 92375.