VANDERMEULEN, Jeannette (néé Janneke Veninga) -

Our beloved Mother and Beppe passed away quietly in her sleep and entered the glorious presence of the Lord Jesus, Monday, March 20th 2017 in her 89th year, at Glen Hill Marnwood home in Bowmanville.

Born on November 3, 1928 in the Netherlands, Jeannette’s early teen years were the years of WWII. She married Wiebren (William/Bill) VanderMeulen in February 1952 and three months later emigrated to California, and later to Kingston to join Bill’s sister. In 1955 they began the journey back to California, stopping in Whitby to visit relatives. A job opportunity at Dunlop led them to stay...and they never left.

Jeannette and Bill had eleven children – losing one precious son in childbirth – and Jeannette worked hard to manage the household and provide a loving and secure environment for everyone. They were faithful members of Emmanuel Reformed Church in Whitby where she was very involved in the women’s ministry. Having no extra money, she started cleaning homes to earn some money to donate to several of her favourite Christian ministries. She worked hard, lived simply and contributed generously for many decades.

Jeannette is predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Bill (2002), and sisters Grace and Henny (Red Deer, AB). She is survived by her sister Joanne (Ken) Reinsma of Whitby, brother John in Kingston, sisters, Annie and Wietske, and brothers, Meinte and Henk in the Netherlands. Her children rise up and call her blessed: Renita Howat of Tacoma, WA; Cecilia (Bob) Brown of Indonesia; Pete (Helen) of Redwater, AB; Art (Martha) of Granville Ferry, NS; Wendy (John Charman) of Saint Albert, ON; Mark (Wendy) of Whitby; Gary (Heidi) of Bowmanville; Angela Keunen of Stony Plain, AB; Frank (Eleanor) of Cambridge, ON; and Ken (Kara) of Calgary, AB. Jeannette was much loved by her 30 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.

Visitation will take place on Friday, March 24th 2017 from 6:00-9:00pm at W.C. Town Funeral Chapel, 110 Dundas Street East, Whitby. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, March 25th 2017 at 11:00am at Emmanuel Reformed Church, 401 Rossland Road West, Whitby. Interment at Groveside Cemetery, Whitby.

Many sincere and heartfelt thanks to the kind and hardworking staff at Glen Hill Marnwood home in Bowmanville where Jeannette lived for the last couple years. Donations in Jeannette’s honour and memory to Gate 3:16 Outreach Centre in Oshawa.

Condolences may be expressed online at wctownfuneralchapel.com