Brenda Van Wingerden

Brenda Lynn Van Wingerden, age 43, of Oak Ridge died on Saturday, December 10, 2022 after a hard-fought battle with cancer.

Brenda grew up in Pompton Plains and graduated from Netherlands Reformed Christian School with the Class of 1997. She then attended Berdan Business School where she earned certification as a Medical Assistant. She was a true ray of sunshine to the patients that she cared for while working for the private practice of Dr. Aasmaa.

After dating Leonard Van Wingerden for some time, Brenda and Len married on June 13, 2003 at Ebenezer Netherlands Reformed Church in Franklin Lakes. Soon after marriage, God blessed Len and Brenda with their firstborn, a son named Caleb. Caleb was followed by brothers Jacob and Kevin, little sister Alanna, and little brother Noah. Brenda left her work as a medical assistant and embraced God’s new role as loving and devoted mother to her children and support for Len in his electrical contracting business. Brenda guided her children with an albeit firm hand tempered with a vast outpouring of loving guidance, kindness, sweetness, considerateness, compassion and devotion. Her love, in fact, touched the lives of simply everyone she met. She was an incredible, wife, mother, daughter, sister, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt, and friend. Ask anyone who knew Brenda and they would testify that she was always looking for the good and finding something to love in everyone.

Brenda is survived by her beloved husband Leonard, their five children: Caleb, Jacob, Kevin, Alanna, and Noah Van Wingerden, her parents Jacobus “Joe” and Margaret (Kievit) Willekes, her nine siblings: Laura Prol and husband Jeff of Pompton Plains, Robert Willekes and wife Brenda of Choteau, Montana, Linda Van Grouw and husband Mark of Blairstown, Donald Willekes and wife Hendrieka of Vaughn, Montana, John Willekes and wife Anna of W. Milford, David Willekes and wife Amy of Pequannock, Abraham Willekes and wife Beverly of Allamuchy, Kevin Willekes and wife Konnie of Oak Ridge, and Barbara Negrotto and husband Joseph of Oak Ridge, her father-in-law and mother-in-law Len and Marjan Van Wingerden of Toano, VA, her brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws: Case and Star Van Wingerden of Toano, VA, Mike and Mandy Van Wingerden of Weddington, NC, Ben and Allison Van Wingerden of Yuma, AZ, Josh Van Wingerden of Yorktown, VA, Rianne and Zack Vander Groef of Wantage, NJ and Lydia Van Wingerden of South Sudan.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of remembrance in Brenda’s name are asked to consider:

Operation Kindness NJ

23 Quaker Church Road

Andover, NJ 07821

To donate online click here:  Operation Kindness NJ.

In the comment section please indicate "In Memory of Brenda Van Wingerden"

To learn more about the good work of Operation Kindness NJ visit operationkindnessnj.com