It's been a year at this point Mom and we are still thinking about you.

Mom's eulogy as written and read by her kids at her service.

These are a few thoughts about Maria from Dan, Dave, Debbie, and Mike, her sons and daughter.    We want to thank you all for coming today.  Your thoughts and prayers are very much appreciated and we are grateful you are here to share this moment with us.   Your presence is a testament to how many people Mom touched in her life.

Mom was born to be a mom.   The thing that mattered most to her was that her family was being cared for.   Her entire life was devoted to her family, including caring for us and our Dad and her three grandchildren.   She would and did do anything for her family.   After Dad passed away, the same energy Mom had in caring for us was transferred to raising her grandchildren: Alec, Joel, and Megan.

She always wanted to do what was best for us.   She loved to give vegetables from her garden, her things cooked with love, and many of her talented handy crafts.   The significance of these items was her care for us and the intent was golden even if it was not always appreciated.   We weren't a family that had a lot of money, but our parents knew how to stretch things and we never felt that we missed anything.     We all enjoyed the simple things and we have fond memories of our childhood.    There are times where we would wish we could still experience the fresh peaches that mom picked at a farm and served with ice cream.  It seemed like it was a treat only deserved by the best.  Who really cares what it is, it only matters what you think, and we know mom offered the best to us.  What a wonderful gift.   
 
Mom never criticized any of us.   She only supported us and gave us a strong feeling of love.  It has given us a strong inner self confidence which we owe to her.
  
Mike remembers one time when he was young and had the main part in a school play in front of the entire school.   He was a little shy and it was a big deal to do the play.   He remembers mom in the back of the room watching the play with a huge smile….the kind of smile that says good job….and I am so proud of him!   Mike wasn't so sure there was so much to be proud of, but her support is well remembered.

Mom had some interesting views of religion and spiritualism.  She felt very peaceful with her faith.  She loved talking to the Mormons and Jehovah Witness who came to the door and loved to tell us she thought she had converted them to her point of view.

Mom always talked about her life growing up in Germany, or “back home” as she called it.  Many of these stories were about life during and after World War II.  We heard these stories countless times in our life and always were amused how fascinating other people were by them.  But now having heard these stories so many times, her memories are now our memories

Mom's dad died in a bicycle accident shortly before she came to the US.  Mom came to think of his spirit as a guardian angel always asking him to watch over us if we were traveling.  Mom said not too long ago that when she is gone that she will be that guardian angel watching over us.
Mom died slightly more than a month after the 20 year anniversary of Dad's passing.  They now are together and that thought gives us comfort.  We will always miss her and remember the dedication she had to us.   God bless you both.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Van Der Zanden children and grand children as they mourn the passing of their mom/grandmother.  I truly enjoyed hearing Maria's stories of her early life in Europe through WWII and admired her fortitude and determination as she overcame many hardships to carve out a new life for herself in Oregon.  Maria's passion and talent for gardening was made evident year after year by the jaw-dropping display of vibrant vegetable plants she grew in her backyard, the bounty from which I was often a beneficiary when her son Mike returned from visits home back to Seattle loaded with bags of fresh or pickled veggies.  That same passion for cultivation clearly applied to an even greater extent to the wonderful family that Maria raised and loved dearly. She will be greatly missed.

There are very few people as genuine and loving as Mrs Vanderzanden and she will missed. She was like a second Mother too me and will always be remember in my thoughts and prayers.

Mrs Van Der Zanden, as I knew her back when I was attending middle school with her son, and one of my best friends, Mike Van Der Zanden, was a loving, caring, and nurturing mother....She always made visiting Mike a comfortable and fun experience, and we always left the house with smiles on our faces and food in our bellies...  I feel blessed to have known such a beautiful lady.  My Prayers are with you all.

Mike Sheehan

Sending out prayers to the Van Der Zanden family, my thoughts and prayers are with each and everyone of you. May the Lord comfort you all in this difficult time.

OBITUARY

Maria Teresa Van Der Zanden

April 3, 1930 – July 13, 2014

Pegg, Paxson & Springer Funeral Chapel

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