Helen Edith (Olesen) Van Veen

On Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, Helen went to be with her Lord and Saviour. With great sadness we announce her passing at her home in Brussels, with her family at her side. She was in her 86th year.

 

Helen was the loving wife of Gerrit van Veen and the dear mother of Mark and Dianne van Veen,  Elmwood; Paul and Sharon van Veen, Wroxeter; David and Gael van Veen, Guelph; Dan and Dianne van Veen, Brussels; Stephen and Kendra van Veen, Brussels; John and Mary Beth van Veen,  Kenilworth; Darryl and Rachel Stoltz, Bonshaw, Prince Edward Island  and Tim and Sarah van Veen, Ottawa.

 

Helen was the grandmother of Sarah van Veen, Nathan van Veen; Ivory van Veen, Justine van Veen, Vienna van Veen; Boaz van Veen; Ryan (Sarah) van Veen, Leanne (Menno) Wichers, Matthew (Emma) van Veen, Philip (Abbi) van Veen, Laura van Veen; Christopher van Veen, Alicia van Veen; Max van Veen, Kailyn van Veen, Brielle van Veen; Lazarus (Samatha) Stoltz, Hannah Joy Stoltz, Keziah Stoltz, Twila-Dawn Stoltz, Jedidiah Stoltz, Zadok Stoltz; Naomi van Veen and Felix van Veen and the great-grandmother of Phoebe, Barrett, and Kinsley.

 

Helen was the sister of Ron Olesen, and sister-in-law of Piet (Magaret) van Veen, Alie (Gar) Lee, Clara van Merkestein, Martha (Cees) de Boer, and Agnes Ten Pas.

 

She was predeceased by her parents Jens ‘Bill’ and Clara (Hammond) Olesen, her sister-in-law Kay Olesen, and brother-in-law Henk Ten Pas.

 

Helen was born in the small hamlet of Glen Christie, Puslinch Township, on Sept. 17, 1935, and completed teachers college in Hamilton. She married Gerrit on Aug. 2, 1958 and moved to their dairy farm in the Brussels area.  She began teaching in a one-room school in Elma Township, and shortly after started a family. Helen raised seven sons and one daughter and was a devoted grandmother to 24 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.  Helen had a strong faith in Jesus her Saviour and her Christian values were evident in everything she did. Helen used her many talents, skills and attributes to enrich her marriage, her family and her church family.

 

Helen was a devoted mother and caregiver. She valued education a great deal and happily spent many hours helping her children and grandchildren with their reading and school work. She volunteered her time to help local school children improve their reading skills. She was always interested in what her grandchildren were doing and took time to talk to them or correspond by email. Several will fondly remember her tea parties and homemade cookies. Helen remembered everyone’s birthdays and never missed sending a homemade card which always arrived perfectly on time.

 

Helen had a green thumb. Her flower garden consistently flourished under her love and care. She was also thrilled with the beautiful flowers she found on her travels. Helen enjoyed watching the birds which frequently visited her garden.

Helen spent many hours in the kitchen preparing delicious meals for her large family. Her apple pie was considered one of the most valued items at family gatherings.

 

She not only shared her faith with her family, but also taught Sunday School, played the piano, hosted guest speakers, and volunteered at local retirement and nursing homes.

 

A private family funeral service will be held at the Eaton Funeral Home, Listowel, on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 11 a.m. The service will be livestreamed and the link is available on the funeral home website. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery, Listowel. Memorial donations to Child Evangelism Fellowship would be appreciated.

 

Online condolences may be left at www.eatonfuneralhome.ca