Caroline Vanderhoef

Vanderhoef
Caroline Bruce Vanderhoef was born February 1, 1924 in Houston, Texas and passed peacefully in her sleep at dawn December 13, 2010. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Peter, her eldest daughter, Louise Baldwin Vanderhoef-Warren and is survived by the last member of her immediate family, Ann B. Vanderhoef as well as nieces and nephews from the Bruce and Vanderhoef side of the family.
Caroline attended Rice University, University of Texas and New York School of Interior Design in New York City. She was an Allegro Debutante in 1942 at The Houston Country Club, a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and the Jr. League, as were her daughters.
She was married for 61 years to the great the love of her life, Peter Baldwin Vanderhoef from Greenwich, Connecticut and New York City who was "Big Man on Campus" at Williams College and a champion Equestrian, riding and jumping his Bavarian German thoroughbred horses.
Caroline was active in her sorority Kappa Alpha Theta and the Jr. League, as were her children, and she often won awards for selling the most tickets to the Houston Ballet and Symphony. One year she won "J.R. Ewing" from the show "Dallas" and lunched with " J.R." and another co-winner at the old Warwick Hotel.
Caroline's family had great fun with this as they would often send her letters from J.R.'s wife, "Sue Ellen" who was "ragingly jealous". The letters were so hilarious the actor who played "J.R." called Caroline's husband, Peter, and said he was going to "take Caroline and Peter could have Sue Ellen".
Caroline was known to have an extraordinary sense of humor and was a wonderful story teller that captivated many an audience; and she was a warm and loving mother with elegant social graces which came naturally.
As a mother, Caroline passed on to her daughters great strength, stamina and fortitude. Lovingly, she cared for and helped guide her eldest daughter, Louise, throughout Louise's many years of difficult illnesses. Louise took cue from her mother, although struggling, she never let her illnesses get in the way of giving warmth and love to others.
Caroline's youngest, Ann, took cue as well. Ann resigned from community organizations with honor, preferring to serve a bigger community, her country. Undaunted, Ann persevered with her parent's support, putting her life on the line working for her country rather than "attending Tea Parties and out-dressing other society women".
While working undercover saving many American lives, Ann exposed numerous enemy operatives and their locations. When her cover was blown and she was being hunted by 5 enemy male operatives - she escaped.
Caroline was proud of Ann's courage and loved hearing about a book being written about her youngest's escapades by renowned author, Robert Parker, to be entitled "Renegade Deb".
Caroline will be remembered as a great and dignified example of a woman of substance as were her daughters persevering through great trials and tribulation.
Funeral services are pending and private. Services will be held in New York where Caroline will be buried next to her husband, Peter, and her daughter, Louise. As the last surviving member of the immediate family, Ann will be in attendance standing by her sister's grave, her father's grave, and now her mother's grave.
She will pay tribute to her family; and as promised to her mother, Ann will sing a special hymn she and her mother shared. It is a hymn by Mary Baker Eddy, entitled "A Mother's Evening Prayer" ending with the verse, "?and Mother will find her home in heavenly rest."