Jill Denise Vanderlee

The Vanderlee and Vissia families regretfully share the calling home by our Lord of Jill Denise Vanderlee.

On Sunday April 17, 2022 she passed peacefully at the Ty Watson House in Port Alberni BC, after an 8 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 53 years old.

Jill was loving, kind, helpful, and was always putting her family first. She was raised by her loving parents, Alice and Theodorus Vissia and big sister to Colleen Enns (Derek). She spent her youthful years with her family in Port Alberni and attended some post-secondary in Nanaimo. It was in Nanaimo that she met and married the love of her life Al Vanderlee, and together they built a life back in Port Alberni. Together, Jill and Al celebrated the birth of three children , Joel Vanderlee (Kait Muir), Emma Vanderlee, and Megan Vanderlee, and were actively involved in their many endeavors through the years. She spent most of her career as an insurance agent and enjoyed her job, which she did very well. She was passionate about animals and loved a good snuggle with her fur babies, Max and Mia. Jill was caring, loyal and her laugh was infectious. She was proud of her Dutch heritage and sharing its cultural traditions. Jill was especially gifted with arts and crafts and spent many years making beautiful quilts for family, friends, and newborn babies. She was incredibly creative and spent many years enjoying crafting, sewing, and quilting; always having a project or two on the go for someone. She was a vendor at many craft fairs in the Alberni Valley and her brilliant creations are enjoyed in many homes in many places today.

Jill loved living in Port Alberni and being surrounded by her community, her friends, and her family.

The family asks those wishing to honor Jill to donate to the Ty Watson House or BC Cancer Society in her name.

A celebration of life is being held at Alberni Valley Christian Reformed Church on Friday April 22, 2022 at 1:30pm.

The family would also like to thank their entire medical team for their exceptional care and compassion.