Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Calls outside of office hours? No worries! Our team will respond within 10–15 minutes.
October 16, 2018
Services
Friends may visit with the family from 3-7 PM on Sunday, October 21, 2018 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held 9 AM on Monday, October 22, 2018 from the funeral home then to Our Lady of the Valley Church, 630 Valley Road, Wayne where a 10 AM Funeral Mass will be offered.
Interment will be in Laurel Grove Memorial Park, Totowa.
Cornelius “Neil” J. Van Koppen, age 81, of Wayne passed Tuesday, October 16, 2018.
Neil was born in the family home at 79 Jefferson Street in Paterson to the late Tice and Catherine Van Koppen. He was raised in Hawthorne and graduated from Hawthorne High School with the Class of 1956.
In 1957 he enlisted in the United States Navy and served aboard the USS Hazelwood and was stationed in Newport, Rhode Island for much of his service. He served during peacetime and was honorably discharged in 1959. When on leave, he would come home, and Judy’s mother, who treated him like a son, would wash and iron his Navy Whites.
Judy and Neil met in high school when he was a senior and she was a freshman. Neil’s attraction to Judy was instant and her attraction to him needed to be coaxed a little bit as she thought he was a pain in the neck. Neil befriended Judy’s brother Bob and this helped him have steady access to Judy. Neil won her heart and proposed marriage, when she was sixteen years old, at the stock car races in Middletown, New York. They married on September 12, 1959 at Saint Anthonys Church in Hawthorne and after a reception at Club 17 in Ramsey, they honeymooned at Neil’s friend’s home in Davies, Florida. They have enjoyed fifty-nine years of a loving and devoted marriage.
As a young man he worked as a short order cook at the Vans Restaurant on East 13th Street in Paterson. He bought the luncheonette, and eventually sold it and went into business as Van Koppen Cafeterias. He expanded his business, and operated the cafeteria in Berlex Laboratories in Wayne, as well as Fisher Scientific in Fair Lawn. He formally retired in 1995.
Neil will be lovingly remembered for his energetic, funny way, and his one liner jokes. He was the kind of guy that would do anything for you. He was always willing to help, was caring, considerate, and never had a bad word to say about anyone. Many great family memories were made camping in their motor home as they traveled all around the East Coast. For many years Neil also loved to go fishing. He has been fishing with his son Scott in such places as the Thousand Islands, New York and the Saint Lawrence River in Canada. He also enjoyed attending his grandchildren's sporting events, whether it be soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, or football. Some of Neil's favorite activities included enjoying Jets games, watching golf, and spending time with his dog, Tucker.
Neil loved to stay busy and for many years he devoted his time and talents, to P.O.L. Fire Company #2 in Wayne. He joined the department in 1961, served as the treasurer at the fire house and worked his way through the ranks to serve as chief in 1972-1973.
Neil was the loving husband of Judith (Weaver) Van Koppen; devoted father of Scott Van Koppen and his wife Lisa of Montville, and Christine Vecere and her husband John of Wayne; he was the cherished grandfather of Marissa Van Koppen, Michael Van Koppen, Andrew Vecere, Brandon Vecere, and Brian Van Koppen; he was the dear brother of Joseph Van Koppen and his wife Jill of Toms River; much loved brother-in-law to Janet O’Donnell of Wayne and Mary Ellen Weaver of Greensboro, NC and her late husband Robert.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to P.O.L. Fire Company #2 in Wayne or the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad would be greatly appreciated.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family from 3-7 PM on Sunday, October 21, 2018 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held 9 AM on Monday, October 22, 2018 from the funeral home then to Our Lady of the Valley Church, 630 Valley Road, Wayne where a 10 AM Funeral Mass will be offered.
Interment will be in Laurel Grove Memorial Park, Totowa.
October 16, 2018
Services
Friends may visit with the family from 3-7 PM on Sunday, October 21, 2018 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held 9 AM on Monday, October 22, 2018 from the funeral home then to Our Lady of the Valley Church, 630 Valley Road, Wayne where a 10 AM Funeral Mass will be offered.
Interment will be in Laurel Grove Memorial Park, Totowa.
Cornelius “Neil” J. Van Koppen, age 81, of Wayne passed Tuesday, October 16, 2018.
Neil was born in the family home at 79 Jefferson Street in Paterson to the late Tice and Catherine Van Koppen. He was raised in Hawthorne and graduated from Hawthorne High School with the Class of 1956.
In 1957 he enlisted in the United States Navy and served aboard the USS Hazelwood and was stationed in Newport, Rhode Island for much of his service. He served during peacetime and was honorably discharged in 1959. When on leave, he would come home, and Judy’s mother, who treated him like a son, would wash and iron his Navy Whites.
Judy and Neil met in high school when he was a senior and she was a freshman. Neil’s attraction to Judy was instant and her attraction to him needed to be coaxed a little bit as she thought he was a pain in the neck. Neil befriended Judy’s brother Bob and this helped him have steady access to Judy. Neil won her heart and proposed marriage, when she was sixteen years old, at the stock car races in Middletown, New York. They married on September 12, 1959 at Saint Anthonys Church in Hawthorne and after a reception at Club 17 in Ramsey, they honeymooned at Neil’s friend’s home in Davies, Florida. They have enjoyed fifty-nine years of a loving and devoted marriage.
As a young man he worked as a short order cook at the Vans Restaurant on East 13th Street in Paterson. He bought the luncheonette, and eventually sold it and went into business as Van Koppen Cafeterias. He expanded his business, and operated the cafeteria in Berlex Laboratories in Wayne, as well as Fisher Scientific in Fair Lawn. He formally retired in 1995.
Neil will be lovingly remembered for his energetic, funny way, and his one liner jokes. He was the kind of guy that would do anything for you. He was always willing to help, was caring, considerate, and never had a bad word to say about anyone. Many great family memories were made camping in their motor home as they traveled all around the East Coast. For many years Neil also loved to go fishing. He has been fishing with his son Scott in such places as the Thousand Islands, New York and the Saint Lawrence River in Canada. He also enjoyed attending his grandchildren's sporting events, whether it be soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, or football. Some of Neil's favorite activities included enjoying Jets games, watching golf, and spending time with his dog, Tucker.
Neil loved to stay busy and for many years he devoted his time and talents, to P.O.L. Fire Company #2 in Wayne. He joined the department in 1961, served as the treasurer at the fire house and worked his way through the ranks to serve as chief in 1972-1973.
Neil was the loving husband of Judith (Weaver) Van Koppen; devoted father of Scott Van Koppen and his wife Lisa of Montville, and Christine Vecere and her husband John of Wayne; he was the cherished grandfather of Marissa Van Koppen, Michael Van Koppen, Andrew Vecere, Brandon Vecere, and Brian Van Koppen; he was the dear brother of Joseph Van Koppen and his wife Jill of Toms River; much loved brother-in-law to Janet O’Donnell of Wayne and Mary Ellen Weaver of Greensboro, NC and her late husband Robert.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to P.O.L. Fire Company #2 in Wayne or the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad would be greatly appreciated.
Guestbook
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.