Alice Luyendyk Van Essendelft, 94, a resident of Ravenwood Lane, died peacefully, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2011, in Pungo District Hospital, Belhaven.

Mrs. Van Essendelft was born in Passaic, N.J., and was the daughter of the late Tunis and Nellie Sweetman Luyendyk. A homemaker, she enjoyed helping others and in years past had cared for the sick in her community and had volunteered at Pungo District Hospital and with Meals on Wheels. She was a faithful member of Covenant United Reformed Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Cornelius A. Van Essendelft; a son, Nelson Van Essendelft; a sister, Elizabeth Mol; three brothers, John, Robert and Raymond Luyendyk; and a granddaughter-in-law, Monique Van Essendelft.

Surviving are her daughter, Susan V. Slager and husband Wayne of Pinetown; a son, Bernard A. Van Essendelft Sr. and wife Carol of Pantego; a daughter-in-law, Jessica K. Van Essendelft of Washington; 12 grandchildren, Bernie Van Essendelft Jr., Raymond Van Essendelft and wife Barbara, Ted Van Essendelft and wife Kim, Jonathan Van Essendelft and wife Jamie, Seth Van Essendelft and wife Barbra, Stephen Van Essendelft and wife Kim, David Van Essendelft and wife Holly, Doug Slager and wife April, Cheryl Van Staalduinen and husband Casey, Troy Slager and wife Heather, Nick Slager, and Allison Gelderman and husband Reid; and 39 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in Covenant United Reformed Church, 24599 U.S. Highway 264 E., Pantego, by the Rev. Calvin J. Tuininga. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery in Washington. Friends may join the family from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Thursday in the church and all other times at the home of her son, Bernard, 1513 Windley Canal Road, Pantego.

Floral tributes are welcome and may be received at the church beginning at 4:30 p.m. Thursday or contributions may be made to Covenant United Reformed Church, P.O. Box 9, Pantego, NC 27860, and should be directed for use in the Benevolence Fund.

Miller & Van Essendelft, Funeral and Cremation Providers, 1125 Harvey Point Road, Hertford, is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolence may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.