Ethel M. Van Der Horn

Ethel M. Van Der Horn (nee Douma), age 83, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Monday, September 6, 2021, while receiving the loving care at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Wayne, NJ.

Ethel was born in Paterson and raised in Little Falls and was one of two children to Evert and Ethel Douma.  While growing up in Little Falls, Ethel attended Passaic Valley High School graduating with the class of 1956.  During her time in high school she actively participated with the “Green Team” Girls’ Show.  Following her graduation from Passaic Valley, Ethel married her high school sweetheart, James Enderly and settled in Totowa.  While living in Totowa, Ethel welcomed the births of all three of her children, her son James and then her twins, Karen and Susan.  Soon after having children, Ethel became a homemaker and volunteer.  This is where she made lifelong friendships with her neighbors on Mair Avenue in Totowa. She especially enjoyed vacations down-the-shore, apple picking, and weekends with them at the Totowa Pool.

In the early 1970’s, Ethel joined the work force and accepted a position as Group Long Term Disability Claims Representative at Prudential Life Insurance in Parsippany.  Ethel’s career at Prudential spanned thirty-three years until her retirement in 2003.

Ethel was a member of the Totowa First Aid Squad for over twenty five years.  While volunteering at the Totowa First Aid Squad, she met a man from the Totowa Fire Department named George Van Der Horn.  As fate would have it they fell in love and were married on July 1, 1983.  The couple settled in Clifton where Ethel and George cherished seventeen years of loving and loyal marriage together until George’s passing in 2000.  Following George’s passing, Ethel sold her home and moved to Riverdale for several years until finally moving to Sisco Village in Wayne where she has been ever since.

Besides being a long time member of the Totowa First Aid Squad, Ethel was also a member of the Valley Seniors in Clifton, and The Young at Heart in Wayne.  She was dedicated to her Christian faith and was a long-time active member of the Preakness Baptist Church in Wayne.  Organization and leadership were some of Ethel’s most distinguishing qualities so it came as no surprise that Ethel was also the Social Director of Sisco Village where she arranged countless games, activities and events for her senior community.  She also spent many years planning and organizing her high school reunions every five years.  Ethel was gifted at arts and crafts including sewing, crocheting, and knitting.  She enjoyed going to Atlantic City with family and friends and on many occasions leaving a winner.  Ethel also enjoyed playing Rummikub and Bunco with her friends and neighbors.

Travel was one Ethel’s favorite past times.  She and her family have traveled to a variety of destinations including; Ireland, Scotland, France, Nova Scotia, various islands in the Caribbean, and her favorite destination, Portugal.  Ethel also had memorable vacations to the Badlands National Park, the Black Hills and the Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota.  Aside from all of Ethel’s talents, hobbies, and interests, her greatest passion was for her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Ethel than providing for and spending time with her family.  Ethel was an outspoken person who was never afraid to tell you what she thought and with her wit and wisdom, she was extremely motivational to others.  Ethel was a good judge of character, had a huge heart, and was always thoughtful of others, always remembering to send cards to someone during the holidays or on their birthdays.  Ethel was a very special person who touched the lives of many people and will be truly missed by everyone that knew her.

Ethel is survived by her three children; James W. Enderly and his partner Steve Himber of Englewood, Karen A. Enderly of Lincoln Park, and Susan Enderly Peracchio of Wayne, and her four grandchildren; John Everett Peracchio of Jersey City, Danielle Peracchio of Wayne, Taylor Peracchio of Wayne, and Jimmy Peracchio of Wayne, and her life-long friend Eleanor Dillon of Wayne.  She was predeceased by her husband George Van Der Horn in 2000, as well as her brother Bill Douma in 2018.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ethel’s name may be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.