Ann Shirley DeFreese

Ann Shirley VandenBoss DeFrees, age 84, passed away December 1, 2025 at home in Cadillac.

Ann VandenBoss was born in Cadillac on September 26, 1941 to William “Bill” Nicholas and Alta Marie (Lathrop) VandenBoss.

Ann's family regularly attended the Butterfield Township Nazarene Church. Ann graduated from Merritt High School in 1959. She moved to Cadillac with her parents and attended the Cherry Grove Church of the Nazarene.

Ann completed a Famous Artist Correspondence Course. She wrote to soldiers for a couple years. Ann started writing to Harold L. DeFreese of Merritt, Michigan.

Rev. Harold Yochum married Harold and Ann on September 2, 1967 at the Butterfield Township Nazarene Church. They lived in Cadillac and attended Cherry Grove Nazarene until Harold could not drive anymore. Then they attended the First Church of the Nazarene.  Ann cared for Harold with dementia until close to the end at home. They were married 45 years when Harold passed away April 28, 2013.

Ann loved visiting with neighbor friends and helping them. Ann completed a writing correspondence course; she wrote letters to family, friends, prisoners through Prison Fellowship weekly, and included short stories and poems. She enjoyed reading, singing, cooking, canning, baking, sewing projects and crocheted slippers and potholders.

Ann is survived by a daughter, Lori (Greg) Advocaat and a precious granddaughter, Deanna of Allendale. She is also survived by brothers in law, Leonard “Lee” (Sandy) DeFreese of Midland, Mike (Bonnie) DeFreese of Grand Rapids, sister in law, Judith “Judy” VandenBoss of Grand Rapids; several nieces and nephews; cousin, Steve Lathrop of Marne, first cousins: Wing family; and life-long friends: Jacobs- Arrington family.

Ann was preceded in death by a miscarried baby, parents, in law parents, John and Hazel DeFreese, husband, Harold, miscarried grandbaby, older sister, Barbara Jean (Jerald) “Jerry” Buning, brother, Stanley “Stan” VandenBoss, brothers in law: Gerald “Jerry” Dean (Beverly “Bev”) DeFreese and Charles “Chuck” (Mary) DeFreese.

Memorial tributes may be directed to the Wexford County Council on Aging.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 4, 2025 from 1:00pm to 3:00 pm at the Young-Holdship Funeral Home in Lake City. Burial will take place in the Butterfield Township Cemetery beside her husband, Harold.

The Young-Holdship Funeral Home of Lake City is serving the family. Words of comfort and memories may be shared on www.holdshipfuneralhomes.com.

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