Lorene Annette Vander Zouwen, age 61, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017 at Whatcom Hospice House surrounded by her loving family.
To many, Lorene was the embodiment of her Lord and Savior’s beatitudes given in Mathew 5-7. Lorene was faithful to her Lord and Master, humble, patient, forgiving, merciful and tender-hearted; she was a “rock in shifting sand.”
Lorene was born Aug. 24, 1955 in Bellingham to Jake and Edna (Tjoelker) Vos, one of six children. She grew up in Everson, living her whole life on the family farm on Mack Road. She graduated from Lynden Christian High School in 1973 and C.T.C. Business College in 1975.
Lorene was initially employed at Town and Country Apparel in 1981, and she began her life’s mission serving as the Lynden Christian Middle School secretary /librarian in 1981. Lorene dedicated 35 years to the education of the Lord’s young children.
Lorene enjoyed photography, gardening and traveling, having traveled throughout North America, Europe, Israel and Turkey. She loved the little things of God’s creation and found peace on long, early morning walks on beaches.
Lorene and her husband Arie Vander Zouwen met at Everson Christian Reformed Church and were married Aug. 3, 1991 and spent 25 loving years together. They raised two loving children, daughter Kelsey and son Breton. Lorene and Arie were members of Everson Christian Reformed Church and Third Christian Reformed Church in Lynden.
Lorene was preceded in death by her father Jake Vos, nephew Douglas Vos, and preborn son Christian.
She is survived by husband Arie; children Kelsey and Breton; mother Edna Vos; brothers Ken (Millie) Vos, Jerry (Pat) Vos, Don (Janet) Vos and Bernie Vos; sister Linda (Jeff) Kok; also brother-in-law Tony Vander Zouwen; sisters-in-law Mina (Ted) Serhienko, Rika (Gerald) Snip, Trudy (Mike) Kooy, Nicki (Wilf) Vander Vecht and Carolyn (Dean) Kloese; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was conducted on Tuesday, March 7, in Third Christian Reformed Church of Lynden, with Pastors Jon Young and Homer Wigboldy officiating. A private family and close friend committal preceded in Monumenta Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Lynden Christian Schools Performing Arts Program, 417 Lyncs Drive, Lynden, WA 98264.
You are invited to share your memories and condolences in the online guest book at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.
