1925
Caroline
2010
Caroline M. Vander Weele
November 5, 1925 — January 5, 2010
Caroline M. “Kerry” Vander Weele, nee Kruis, age 84, beloved wife of the late Edward J. Vander Weele (1987). Loving mother of James, Michael (the late Albertena), Debra (David) Shipley, Jayne (James) Vander Woude, and Carole (Ted) Voss. Dear grandmother of 16 and great-grandmother of 13. Fond sister of Roland (Jo) Kruis, Allan (Betty) Kruis, Geneva (Daryl) Whiting, Audrey (Roger) Otten, Harriet (Jerry) Farwell and the late Melvin (Joan Lambert). Retired secretary at Southwest Chicago Christian School after 25 years of service and a long-time friend of Trinity Christian College. Visitation Friday, January 8, 2010 from 3-8PM at Colonial Chapel 15525 S. 73rd Ave. (155th/Wheeler Dr. & Harlem) Orland Park, IL. Lying in State Saturday, January 9, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. until time of Funeral Service 10:00 a.m. at Calvin Christian Reformed Church, 101st and Central Ave., Oak Lawn, IL. Interment Chapel Hill Gardens South. Memorials to Southwest Chicago Christian Schools or Trinity Christian College preferred. Express your thoughts and condolences at www.colonialchapel.com. 708-532-5400
Caroline (Kerry) Vander Weele (nee Kruis) 84, died Tuesday night, January 5, at Palos Community Hospital. Mrs. Vander Weele was born on November 5, 1925, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin to John and Cora Kruis. She was married to Edward Vander Weele, also of Sheboygan, on August 12, 1947. Kerry and Ed began their married life in Grand Rapids, MI, where Ed attended Calvin on the GI bill. They lived in Pella, Iowa, from 1950-1955; in Waupun, Wisconsin, from 1955-1959; in Pella again from 1959-1968; and finally in Worth, Illinois, where they soon became part of an especially neighborly neighborhood. Kerry stayed in their home in Worth, beyond Ed's death in 1987, until August, 2009, when she moved to Peace Village. There she was happy to find a friendly community waiting. Whether in Iowa, Wisconsin, or Illinois, Ed and Kerry were always involved in Christian education. While Kerry dedicated herself to home-making in the early years, while Ed worked as teacher and administrator, she also worked for 25 years as secretary at Southwest Chicago Christian Schools. At SWCCS, she loved treating fifth-graders to her annual bread-making class as well as bandaging fingers and befriending those who needed a helping hand or encouraging smile.
In fact, in the rest of her life, too, Kerry was perhaps best known for cultivating the gift of Christian friendship, whether in the neighborhood, the church, Bible study group, book club, or thrift store. Many also enjoyed the fruits of her labors in the kitchen or the rides she regularly provided for others. In her 70s and early 80s she visited so many shut-ins that the church council gave her the title "visiting deacon." At Peace Village, she took on the role of saying grace for her table at the evening dinner, asking gently for permission first.
Kerry also had an artistic side. After years of wondering where her daughter Jayne had gotten her artistic genes, she decided she would like to try her hand at painting, too, and joined a local art group, entered a few art competitions, and even became the first 80-something art student at Trinity Christian College. She also wrote well, not only following the discipline required for instant thank-you notes but also writing down the highlights of family trips, to read back at the end of each day, often doubling the fun of those days. She also liked clothes, sewing them in younger days and becoming a jazzy dresser after her retirement. She lived by the Trinity Activities Calendar and was frequently found at basketball games, scholarship dinners, faculty-staff picnics, movies, and art openings.
A life time of habits held for Kerry even in her final days. "I aim to please," she joked to her daughter the day before her death. It was a joke, but it was serious, too. So was her attitude about prayer. On the trip down to the MRI test on the night that she died, she turned with difficulty toward her son and said, "Pray." He said he was and then asked if she also meant out loud for her to hear. Though speech was difficult, she said a clear "Yes." They had another prayer after the elevator let them out in the basement. She never made it back to her room, but she died without much struggle, among family and two nurses superbly respectful of life and death. As mother, she was a faithful guide and encourager. We mourn her sudden death but are thankful her struggle is over and confident that she is with her faithful Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Caroline (Kerry) Vander Weele (nee Kruis) 84, died Tuesday night, January 5, at Palos Community Hospital. Mrs. Vander Weele was born on November 5, 1925, in Sheboygan, Wisconsin to John and Cora Kruis. She was married to Edward Vander Weele, also of Sheboygan, on August 12, 1947. Kerry and Ed began their married life in Grand Rapids, MI, where Ed attended Calvin on the GI bill. They lived in Pella, Iowa, from 1950-1955; in Waupun, Wisconsin, from 1955-1959; in Pella again from 1959-1968; and finally in Worth, Illinois, where they soon became part of an especially neighborly neighborhood. Kerry stayed in their home in Worth, beyond Ed's death in 1987, until August, 2009, when she moved to Peace Village. There she was happy to find a friendly community waiting. Whether in Iowa, Wisconsin, or Illinois, Ed and Kerry were always involved in Christian education. While Kerry dedicated herself to home-making in the early years, while Ed worked as teacher and administrator, she also worked for 25 years as secretary at Southwest Chicago Christian Schools. At SWCCS, she loved treating fifth-graders to her annual bread-making class as well as bandaging fingers and befriending those who needed a helping hand or encouraging smile.
In fact, in the rest of her life, too, Kerry was perhaps best known for cultivating the gift of Christian friendship, whether in the neighborhood, the church, Bible study group, book club, or thrift store. Many also enjoyed the fruits of her labors in the kitchen or the rides she regularly provided for others. In her 70s and early 80s she visited so many shut-ins that the church council gave her the title "visiting deacon." At Peace Village, she took on the role of saying grace for her table at the evening dinner, asking gently for permission first.
Kerry also had an artistic side. After years of wondering where her daughter Jayne had gotten her artistic genes, she decided she would like to try her hand at painting, too, and joined a local art group, entered a few art competitions, and even became the first 80-something art student at Trinity Christian College. She also wrote well, not only following the discipline required for instant thank-you notes but also writing down the highlights of family trips, to read back at the end of each day, often doubling the fun of those days. She also liked clothes, sewing them in younger days and becoming a jazzy dresser after her retirement. She lived by the Trinity Activities Calendar and was frequently found at basketball games, scholarship dinners, faculty-staff picnics, movies, and art openings.
A life time of habits held for Kerry even in her final days. "I aim to please," she joked to her daughter the day before her death. It was a joke, but it was serious, too. So was her attitude about prayer. On the trip down to the MRI test on the night that she died, she turned with difficulty toward her son and said, "Pray." He said he was and then asked if she also meant out loud for her to hear. Though speech was difficult, she said a clear "Yes." They had another prayer after the elevator let them out in the basement. She never made it back to her room, but she died without much struggle, among family and two nurses superbly respectful of life and death. As mother, she was a faithful guide and encourager. We mourn her sudden death but are thankful her struggle is over and confident that she is with her faithful Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
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