Eva Mae De Kock was a delayed Christmas present to Stephen S. and Wihelmina Tysseling De Kock when she arrived on December 26, 1918. She was one of a family of eight children that were born and raised on a farm near Leighton, Iowa, along Highway 163. The farm had been purchased by her father, Stephen, and had the distinction of being a Century Farm before the expansion of the two lane road to a four lane highway. Eva Mae received her formal education by attending the Black Oak Center Country School and Pella High School in Pella, Iowa. The fall after her graduation from high school, Eva Mae taught school at the Liberty Country School north of Monroe, Iowa, just off of Highway 14. It was a 4th of July celebration in the West Market Park at Pella that brought Paul William Roorda and Eva Mae tobether. This romance blossomed and they were united in marriage on October 5, 1938, at her parents' home on East First Street in Pella. Their honeymoon took them to northern Iowa and southern Minnesota, coming home to settle in the smaller house of the two on the Roorda family farm, just northwest of Pella. After Paul's parents, Wigert A. and Reino Borgman Roorda, move into town, Eva Mae and Paul moved into the "big" house. They farmed here for many years and were blessed to raise four sons: James Phillip, Herbert Eugene, Howard Lee and Alan Wayne. As a family they attended the First Reformed Church in Pella. Eva Mae's years were filled with the joys and challenges of being a farm wife and mother to four boys. She did manage to find time to serve as a 4-H leader, Youth Fellowship leader, Sunday school teacher, Lay Witness missionary and was a member of several ladies clubs and organizations. Eva Mae and Paul enjoyed traveling through out the states, taking a Caribbean cruise which included the Panama Canal, a European tour, and a cruise and tour of Alaska. There were also many years of fun, camping with the
Good Sams Club, volunteering for the Pella Historical Society at the Historical Village and visiting with family and friends. Following their retirement in 1980 they moved to an apartment in Pella and officially became "snow birds". Later they moved into the Pella Manor and continued to enjoy the warm, Texas sunshine during 15 winters, making many new friends. Eva Mae spent countless hours with her hobbies of sewing, quilting, crocheting and knitting. Over the years she made numerous baby coverlets and beautiful afghans. She also loved to meet people and make new acquaintances wherever she went. Paul Roorda passed away on January 12, 1998, following a very brief heart ailment at the age of 82 years.

On December 9, 1999, Eva Mae suffered what was to be the first of numerous strokes, making it necessary for her to leave her residence and reside in an extended care faciltiiy. On April 10, 2000, she became a resident in the Long Term Care Unit at the Pella Regional Health Center where she was lovingly cared for until she passed away Monday, April 25, 2011, at the age of 92 years.

Those who will celebrate her homegoing are her four sons and their wives, ten grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. They and their families are: James and Sandra(Lee)Roorda of Lemoore, Ca., Debra and Greg Tresseder of Folsom, Ca., Jack, Alex, David Roorda of Wasco, Ca., Joseph, Grant and Max, Herbert and Karen(Knowles)Roorda of New Prague, MN., Herbert Roorda, Jr. of Burleson, TX., Allissa, Tyrrel, Lenore and Gary Gillem of Burnsville, MN., Danielle, Rebecca, Karina Speise, Tracy Roorda of New Prague, MN., Howard and Nancy(Deal)Roorda of Bellevue, NE., Timothy and Chris Roorda of Papillion, NE., Teagan, Austyn, Benjamin Roorda of Bellevue, NE., Adrianna, Kaythynn, Joshua Roorda of Sprigfield, NE., Alan and Cindy(Butler)Roorda of Pella, IA., Claire, Nathan, Daniel and Amy Roorda of Pella, IA., Greta, Eva Mae was the last surviving member of her orginal family and was preceded in death by her parents, Stephen and Wilhelmina De Kock, and all her sisters and brothers and their spouses. They are: Engeline and John Engelhoven, Agnes and John A. Van Zuuk, Nettie and Cornie Vroom, Gertrude and Frank Hiemstra, Gladys and Gary Vande Haar, Albert and Janet De Kock, Stephen G. and Mildred De Cook. Her late husband, Paul, was preceded in death by her parents, Wigert and Reino Roorda, and two brothers-in-law: Adrian De Haan and Raymond Newendorp and is survived by his two brothers and two sisters: R. Walter Roorda and his wife, Wilma, Clara R. Newendorp, Erma M. De Haan all of Pella and Carl W. Roorda of Rock Falls, IL. Eva Mae had a deep and abiding love for her Lord.

Funeral Services will be held Thrsday, April 28, 2011 at 11 am at First Reformed Church, Pella, Iowa. Interment will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery at Pella. Visitation will begin after 2 pm Wednesday at Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home where the family present will be Wednesday from 5-7 pm. Memorials may be designated for the activity department of Long Term Care at the Pella Regional Health Center.