Ada M. Kuiken, age 84, of Wyckoff and a former long-time resident of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 6, 2017,

Ada was born and raised in Clifton, NJ. She attended and later graduated from Eastern Academy in Prospect Park, known today as Eastern Christian High School in North Haledon. One night during her sophomore year, while attending an Eastern Academy basketball game, Ada met a very charming and engaging young gentleman, a farmer from Preakness named Herman Kuiken. She was fifteen at the time and Herm was twenty-one. Because of their age difference, later when they were married and were raising their own children, Ada’s husband would often joke with his kids, kiddingly explaining, “You know, kids, I actually brought your mother up.” They dated throughout Ada’s years of high school, and soon after graduating with the Class of 1951, they began to make plans for marriage – plans that were surely hastened by the fact that Herm was serving in the U.S. Army and was about to be deployed far from home. One day, while together in Herm’s 1942 Plymouth, he officially proposed marriage to Ada. Their wedding promises were made before God, family and friends at the home of Herm’s Aunt Jessie located at 370 North 10th Street in Prospect Park. The service was officiated by Reverend Hessel Bouma who was pastor of the Summer Street Christian Reformed Church in Paterson. Following a family reception at the Peacock House in Mountain View, the newlyweds left for a wedding tour of Washington D. C. and the southern states. Herm recalls that, while in our nation’s capital, they couldn’t find a parking space so they just drove around looking at all the different monuments.

Ada and Herman’s marriage life began residing with Ada’s parents in Clifton. Shortly thereafter, they rented an apartment on Hopper Street in Paterson before moving to Woodridge Terrace in the Preakness section of Wayne in 1955. This house became their home and the place where Ada lovingly served as a caring and dedicated mother to her three children – Susan, Richard, and Russell, and where she contributed to many happy family memories for the next 57 years. In 2012 it became time to pack up for a move to Montville. Then, in September, 2014, due to declining health, Ada moved to the Christian Health Care Center in Wyckoff where she had since received wonderful Christian care from their loving staff.

Prior to marriage, Ada worked as an office employee at Botany Mills in Passaic. When blessed with the births of Sue, Rich and Russ, she took a break from the outside work world to give them a loving, Christian upbringing before returning to the workforce. Little did Ada know that this would be the beginning of thirty years of service to the township in which she was ultimately promoted to the position of Purchasing Coordinator. Ada remained a highly valued employee and was rightfully honored at her retirement party on February 14, 1997 with an official proclamation from the mayor declaring that day “Ada Kuiken Day” in Wayne Township.

In their years of dating and early marriage, Ada and Herman enjoyed being members of the Summer Street Church bowling club. Ada cherished her family dearly and so family traditions were very important to her. When her children were growing up, the whole family enjoyed annual summer vacations to Brant Lake in the Adirondacks, and after church on Easter Sundays, the go-to place was to Grandma Kuiken’s house for the annual Easter egg hunt which Ada continued for her much-loved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It was hard to tell who had more fun, them or her. For countless years Ada also looked forward to hosting huge 4th of July picnics for the entire extended family and many family friends as the 4th of July was also Herm’s father, Dick Kuiken’s, birthday.

While enjoying the blessing of family was of paramount importance, Ada also had a servant’s heart. Already as a young woman before marriage, she served as President of the Girl’s Society and as a member of the choir at Summer Street Christian Reformed Church. Later on, Ada joined Herm as a member of the Preakness Christian Reformed Church where Herm’s family were Charter Members. At Preakness she served as a member of the Mary and Martha Society and as Calvinette Counselor. Most recently, Ada was a member of the Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church where she and Herm worshipped faithfully and loved being involved in the Senior Circle. A true believer in the value of a Christ-centered education, Ada also volunteered for many years at the Corner Closet – a thrift store in Hawthorne that donated all of its’ profits to the Eastern Christian School Association.

Ada will above-all be remembered for being a faithful wife and loving mother and grandmother, and also as true example of living a life in the service and trust of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It was this knowledge and trust in God which sustained her and helped her to find peace and acceptance in life’s challenges, and which helped her to recognize that the many blessings she enjoyed, were blessings from Him.

Ada is survived by Herman - her beloved husband of 65 years; her loving daughter: Susan and husband Bill Gaechter of Bloomingdale; two dear sons: Reverend Richard J. Kuiken and wife Margaret of Pompton Plains, and Reverend Russell J. Kuiken and wife Diane of Beaverton, Oregon; twelve adored grandchildren: Reverend Matt and wife Sabrina Kuiken, Jenny and husband Drew Robeson, Melissa and husband Ken Ritsma, Greta and husband Pete Godino, Holly and husband Matt Hoogmoed, Mandy and husband Jordan Minnema, Kelly and husband Jon Poag, Ben and wife Kathy Kuiken, Jesse and wife Tina Kuiken, Rachel Kuiken, Christie and husband Brian Lim, and Bethany Kuiken; twenty-five cherished great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her dear brother and two sisters: Herbert “Bud” Houseward, Helen Houseward, and Jeanne Vogel.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Ada’s name are asked to consider the Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church.