Carol Grace Van Woerkom

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Carol Grace Van Woerkom on February 6, 2023. She just recently celebrated her 89th birthday with her family.

Carol was born in Blasdell, New York outside of Buffalo. She followed her mother and father to Pacific Grove, California after graduation from high school in 1951. She enrolled at Monterey Peninsula College and worked part time at several local businesses. After a tenure as a telephone operator for the Pacific Telephone Company in Monterey, she embarked on a 25-year career in law enforcement beginning in 1960.

Carol was among the first women peace officers for the City of Monterey. She subsequently worked as a police officer for the City of Pacific Grove and as a deputy sheriff and deputy correctional officer for the County of Monterey.

Carol met and married her husband, David Van Woerkom in March 1967 when he was a firefighter and she was a police officer, both working for the City of Monterey. They were married for 39 years until his passing in 2006.

After retiring from her career in law enforcement, she began her second career and most loved time of her life as grandmother to her four grandsons. She never missed any game, graduation, celebration, or special event, giving them her unconditional love and support throughout their lives. A fixture in their lives she was also known by their friends and families as PG DeeDee.

Carol is survived by her daughters, Faith Collins-Beety (Malcolm), Grace Allen (Hubert), grandsons, Garrett Collins (Terhi), Evan Allen, Noah Allen and great-grandson, Onni Collins. She was predeceased by her husband, David Van Woerkom and her grandson, Reade Collins.

We will miss DeeDee’s fierceness, honesty, sense of humor, and ability to adapt to change. But she will always be with us as she taught us to love life, to have faith in God, and to love unconditionally. She will forever be in our hearts.

We want to thank Casa Carmel and VNA & Hospice for their excellent care. In lieu of flowers we ask that you make donations to VNA & Hospice, P. O. Box 2480, Monterey, CA, 93942, The Bridge Restoration Ministry, P.O. Box 113, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 or your favorite charity.