Obituary for
Jeanette I. van Heerden
Jeanette I. (Anderson) van Heerden, 86, of Acton, died Tues. June 3, 2014 at the Emerson Hospital in Concord after a short illness. She was the wife of the late Rev. Lawrence C. van Heerden.
Born in Minneapolis and raised in the Midwest, she was the daughter of the late Walter and Julia (Bailey) Anderson. A registered diploma nurse, she went on to obtain a BS from Roger Williams College in 1984 and a Masters Degree from Cambridge College in 1987. In the early years she was home with the children. Subsequently she worked in cardiology nursing and then psychiatric nursing at the Emerson Hospital before retiring. While residing in Rhode Island she was an active member of the First Baptist Church in East Greenwich, where her husband served as pastor. An Acton resident for 27 years, she was an active member and volunteer at the West Concord Union Church and the Woman’s Club of Concord. Mrs. van Heerden traveled often, including to Sweden, England and three trips to her husband’s native South Africa. She loved reading and music, especially classical, and once retired she enjoyed time spent with her family, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She had a lot of good friends, and will be greatly missed.
The mother of the late Lawrence C. van Heerden, Jr., she is survived by four children: Elizabeth Zorn and husband Brian of Victor, NY, Walter van Heerden of Beverly, MA, Gerald van Heerden and partner Noam Eitan of Brooklyn, NY, and Jean Begemann and companion Jim Johnston of Acton; a brother Bailey Anderson of Willmar, MN., 2 nieces, 5 grandchildren and 3 gr. grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Sun. June 22nd at 1:00pm in the West Concord Union Church, 1317 Main St, Concord. Interment in Mt. Hope Cemetery was private. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant St, Watertown, MA 02472. Memorial page www.actonfuneralhome.com