Idelette de Bure was born in Liège and first married John Stordeur from the same city.

He asked friends to help him find a woman who was "chaste, obliging, not fastidious, economical, patient, and careful for (his) health".

[2] His fellow laborer Martin Bucer had known Idelette and recommended her to Calvin in confidence that she would fit the bill.

As I feared these private cares might annoy her to no purpose, I took occasion, on the third day before her death to mention that I would not fail in discharging my duty to her children.

Lately, also, when a certain woman insisted that she should talk with me regarding these matters, I, for the first time, heard her give the following brief answer: 'Assuredly the principal thing is that they live a pious and holy life.