Van Veen, Helen (Age 85, Brussels)

Helen Edith (Olesen) van Veen – On Sunday, September 27, 2020, Helen went to be with her Lord and Saviour.  With great sadness we announce her passing at her home in Brussels, with her family at her side, in her 86th year.

Loving wife of Gerrit van Veen.  Dear mother of Mark & Dianne van Veen of Elmwood, Paul & Sharon van Veen of Wroxeter, David & Gael van Veen of Guelph, Dan & Dianne van Veen of Brussels, Stephen & Kendra van Veen of Brussels, John & Mary Beth van Veen of Kenilworth, Darryl & Rachel Stoltz of Bonshaw, PEI, and Tim & Sarah van Veen of Ottawa.

Grandmother of Sarah van Veen, Nathan van Veen; Ivory van Veen, Justine van Veen, Vienna van Veen; Boaz van Veen; Ryan (Sarah) van Veen, Leanne (Menno) Wichers, Matthew (Emma) van Veen, Philip (Abbi) van Veen, Laura van Veen; Christopher van Veen, Alicia van Veen; Max van Veen, Kailyn van Veen, Brielle van Veen; Lazarus (Samatha) Stoltz, Hannah Joy Stoltz, Keziah Stoltz, Twila-Dawn Stoltz, Jedidiah Stoltz, Zadok Stoltz; Naomi van Veen and Felix van Veen.  Great-grandmother of Phoebe, Barrett, and Kinsley.

Sister of Ron Olesen, and sister-in-law of Piet (Magaret) van Veen, Alie (Gar) Lee, Clara van Merkestein, Martha (Cees) de Boer, and Agnes Ten Pas.

Predeceased by her parents Jens ‘Bill’ and Clara (Hammond) Olesen, her sister-in-law Kay Olesen, and brother-in-law Henk Ten Pas.

Helen was born in the small hamlet of Glen Christie, Puslinch Township, on September 17, 1935, and completed teachers’ college in Hamilton. She married Gerrit on August 2, 1958 and moved to their dairy farm in the Brussels area.  She began teaching in a one room school in Elma Township, and shortly after started a family.  Helen raised 7 sons and 1 daughter, and was a devoted grandmother to 24 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.

Helen had a strong faith in Jesus her Savior and her Christian values were evident in everything she did. Helen used her many talents, skills, and attributes to enrich her marriage, her family, and her church family.

Helen was a devoted mother and caregiver. She valued education a great deal and happily spent many hours helping her children and grandchildren with their reading and school work. She volunteered her time to help local school children improve their reading skills. She was always interested in what her grandchildren were doing and took time to talk to them or correspond by email. Several will fondly remember her tea parties with homemade cookies. Helen remembered everyone’s birthdays and never missed sending a home-made card which always arrived perfectly on time.

Helen had a green thumb. Her flower garden consistently flourished under her love and care. She also thrilled in the beautiful flowers she found on her travels. Helen enjoyed watching the birds who frequently visited her garden.

Helen spent many hours in the kitchen preparing delicious meals for her large family. Her apple pie was considered one of the most valued items at family gatherings.

She not only shared her faith with her family, but also taught Sunday School, played the piano, hosted guest speakers, and did volunteer services at local retirement and nursing homes.

A private family funeral service will be held at the Eaton Funeral Home, Listowel, on Thursday, October 1^st at 11:00 a.m.   The service will be live-streamed and the link available on the funeral home website.   Interment in Fairview Cemetery, Listowel.   Memorial donations to Child Evangelism Fellowship would be appreciated.

Online condolences at www.eatonfuneralhome.ca

Tags: Brussels, Obituary, Van Veen

Categorised in: Obituaries

This post was written by Blackburn Media