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October 8, 2011
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 9AM from the funeral home, then to St. Mary’s RC Church, 17 Pompton Avenue, Pompton Lakes, where at 10AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Mary Patricia VanVooren, age 82 of Wayne, died peacefully on Saturday, October, 8, 2011. Her family was gathered at her side, offering peace and comfort, when she passed.
Born in Mobile, Alabama, “Pat” sadly lost her mother when she was just seven years old. She was raised by her aunt and grandmother, along with some very strong ‘Southern’ traditions, to be a brave, courageous, and independent woman. At just eighteen years old, she moved out of her father’s home, taking her two younger siblings, Billy and Jackie, with her. At such a young age, she worked hard to raise them all to adulthood before moving to New Jersey when she was twenty three years old. She lived in Paterson briefly, and Little Falls, before settling in the Pines Lake section of Wayne in 1963.
Over the years, Pat maintained a close relationship with her brother Billy and sister Jackie, in Alabama. She would visit them at least once a year, sometimes twice, and they would always talk on the phone. Pat loved and cared deeply for them during her entire life.
Pat raised four children in Pines Lake and decided to go to college while her youngest children were still in high school. She graduated from William Paterson College and later went on to earn her Master’s Degree there as well. She began teaching English at the Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes and stayed there for about twenty years before retiring in 1993. She loved her career and made many lifelong friends at Ramapo. The staff of the English Department all became close friends and they would often meet for lunch and they remained socially active right up to current times. Pat was a dedicated teacher, fastidious, and very bright. Her children recall how their mother would come home from work and stay up to the wee hours; preparing her lesson plans, grading tests, and organizing her paperwork. She loved her students and her career.
In 1987, Pat met Ed VanVooren, one of her neighbors who had sadly lost his wife recently. As a gesture of sympathy, Pat had cooked him a pot roast which she delivered to his home. Sometime later, Ed thanked Pat for the meal and he invited her out for dinner. The two of them ‘clicked’ almost immediately and a wonderful relationship blossomed. They courted for about four years before getting married and they loved each other dearly. Together, they travelled to Italy, Greece, and France just to name a few destinations. Sadly, Ed passed away in 1995 after an all-too-short, but wonderful love affair.
Throughout her life, Pat never stopped challenging herself. She enjoyed crossword puzzles and would compete with her son-in-law to see who could finish them faster. She loved to play Bridge and was very competitive, playing with the Pines Lake Seniors and the Wayne Area Seniors. She loved oil painting and was artistically talented. She worked painstakingly over her garden and could always find something to trim, prune, or manicure. She was also a wonderful cook.
Pat is survived by her loving children; Jan Neilan and her husband Tom of Kinnelon, Chris Herold and his wife Ann of Wanaque, Marcella Carney and her husband Rick of Mendham, and Lee Santaromita and her husband Nate of Hillsborough, eight grandchildren; Danny, Katie, and Emily Neilan of Kinnelon, Kasey, and Matthew Herold of Wanaque, Patrick Carney of Mendham, Kim and Analee Santaromita of Hillsborough, her brother Billy Hanlon of Mobile, Alabama, her sister Jackie McAleer of Birmingham, Alabama, and her dear sister-in-law; Rita Ruffing of Sea Girt, NJ. She was predeceased by her husband Ed VanVooren in 1995.
Donations to “Danny’s House” would be greatly appreciated. Pat’s grandson Danny is autistic and suffers from Down Syndrome. His long term wellbeing was always a concern of hers and in her memory, “Danny’s House” is being established to provide a home for Danny and other autistic adults just like him. Please make your donations payable to “Danny’s House” and mail them c/o Vander May Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ 07470. Thank you.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 9AM from the funeral home, then to St. Mary’s RC Church, 17 Pompton Avenue, Pompton Lakes, where at 10AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
October 8, 2011
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 from 2-4 & 7-9 PM.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 9AM from the funeral home, then to St. Mary’s RC Church, 17 Pompton Avenue, Pompton Lakes, where at 10AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.
Mary Patricia VanVooren, age 82 of Wayne, died peacefully on Saturday, October, 8, 2011. Her family was gathered at her side, offering peace and comfort, when she passed.
Born in Mobile, Alabama, “Pat” sadly lost her mother when she was just seven years old. She was raised by her aunt and grandmother, along with some very strong ‘Southern’ traditions, to be a brave, courageous, and independent woman. At just eighteen years old, she moved out of her father’s home, taking her two younger siblings, Billy and Jackie, with her. At such a young age, she worked hard to raise them all to adulthood before moving to New Jersey when she was twenty three years old. She lived in Paterson briefly, and Little Falls, before settling in the Pines Lake section of Wayne in 1963.
Over the years, Pat maintained a close relationship with her brother Billy and sister Jackie, in Alabama. She would visit them at least once a year, sometimes twice, and they would always talk on the phone. Pat loved and cared deeply for them during her entire life.
Pat raised four children in Pines Lake and decided to go to college while her youngest children were still in high school. She graduated from William Paterson College and later went on to earn her Master’s Degree there as well. She began teaching English at the Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes and stayed there for about twenty years before retiring in 1993. She loved her career and made many lifelong friends at Ramapo. The staff of the English Department all became close friends and they would often meet for lunch and they remained socially active right up to current times. Pat was a dedicated teacher, fastidious, and very bright. Her children recall how their mother would come home from work and stay up to the wee hours; preparing her lesson plans, grading tests, and organizing her paperwork. She loved her students and her career.
In 1987, Pat met Ed VanVooren, one of her neighbors who had sadly lost his wife recently. As a gesture of sympathy, Pat had cooked him a pot roast which she delivered to his home. Sometime later, Ed thanked Pat for the meal and he invited her out for dinner. The two of them ‘clicked’ almost immediately and a wonderful relationship blossomed. They courted for about four years before getting married and they loved each other dearly. Together, they travelled to Italy, Greece, and France just to name a few destinations. Sadly, Ed passed away in 1995 after an all-too-short, but wonderful love affair.
Throughout her life, Pat never stopped challenging herself. She enjoyed crossword puzzles and would compete with her son-in-law to see who could finish them faster. She loved to play Bridge and was very competitive, playing with the Pines Lake Seniors and the Wayne Area Seniors. She loved oil painting and was artistically talented. She worked painstakingly over her garden and could always find something to trim, prune, or manicure. She was also a wonderful cook.
Pat is survived by her loving children; Jan Neilan and her husband Tom of Kinnelon, Chris Herold and his wife Ann of Wanaque, Marcella Carney and her husband Rick of Mendham, and Lee Santaromita and her husband Nate of Hillsborough, eight grandchildren; Danny, Katie, and Emily Neilan of Kinnelon, Kasey, and Matthew Herold of Wanaque, Patrick Carney of Mendham, Kim and Analee Santaromita of Hillsborough, her brother Billy Hanlon of Mobile, Alabama, her sister Jackie McAleer of Birmingham, Alabama, and her dear sister-in-law; Rita Ruffing of Sea Girt, NJ. She was predeceased by her husband Ed VanVooren in 1995.
Donations to “Danny’s House” would be greatly appreciated. Pat’s grandson Danny is autistic and suffers from Down Syndrome. His long term wellbeing was always a concern of hers and in her memory, “Danny’s House” is being established to provide a home for Danny and other autistic adults just like him. Please make your donations payable to “Danny’s House” and mail them c/o Vander May Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, NJ 07470. Thank you.
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