Beatrice Rita DeGrandchamp

Beatrice DeGrandchamp, 92, of South Haven, died on Friday, August 16, 2013 at the River Ridge Retirement Community in South Haven.   

Bea was born on Aug. 13, 1921 to Agnes (Malburg) and Henry Claeys in Warren, Michigan.

Bea was a member of St. Basil Catholic Church.  Bea graduated from Warren High School in 1939-.  She married Vincent DeGrandchamp on June 23, 1949.  She along with her husband were owners of the DeGrandchamps Blueberry Plantation which they started in 1958.  Bea loved and was devoted to the farm spending much of her time making sure that operations ran smoothly.  In Bea's spare time she enjoyed shopping.  Bea was a member of St. Basil Catholic Church in South Haven where she was an active member of the Womens Service Guild.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband - Vincent DeGrandchamp who died in 1993.  Also by two sisters, Henrietta Busch and Lillian Schmidt. 

Bea is survived by her children: Judy (Rick) Johnson, Mike (Martha) DeGrandchamp, Joe (Kathy) DeGrandchamp, Bob (Becky) DeGrandchamp all of South Haven, Michigan.  Eleven grandchildren - Carmen (Troy) Rye, Sarah (Adam) Shinske, Nick, Erica, Danny, Katelyn, Alyssa (Kyle) MacUmber, Molly, Joseph, Zeno and Ben.  One great grand daughter, Lilah.   

Visitation will be on Sunday, August 18, 2013 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Filbrandt Family Funeral Home and Monday, August 19, 2013 from 12:00 to 1:00 PM at St. Basil Catholic Church.  Mass of Christian burial will be on Monday, August 19, 2013 at 1:00 PM at St. Basil Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Ted Martin officiating.   Entombment will take place at Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery in Southfield, Michigan.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Basil Catholic Church or to South Haven's Hospice at Home.