Joannes T. Van Orsouw, 90, of Cumberland, passed away peacefully at Philip Hulitar Hospice Center on October 31. He was the husband of the late Jean C. (Malloy) Van Orsouw, and the father of six; John and his wife Kathleen of Woonsocket, Stephen and his wife Ann of North Smithfield, Kathryn Laplante and her husband Marcel of Cumberland, Elizabeth Horlbogen of North Kingstown, Thomas Van Orsouw and his wife Lisa of Cumberland and Christine Comeau and her husband Lance of North Kingstown. He was the proud grandfather to nine grandchildren, Andrea, Allison, Ashley, and Aidyl Van Orsouw, Kathryn, Anna, and William Horlbogen, and Ryan and Sarah Comeau.
Joannes, or Van, as he was known to everyone, was born in the Netherlands, where he lived with his parents and seven siblings through WWII. It was there he received his degree in nursing. In 1957 at the age of 28, he moved to the United States. Van spent over 40 years as a registered nurse in Rhode Island, retiring in 1991 as the Assistant Director of Nursing at the Rhode Island IMH, now known as the Eleanor Slater Hospital in Cranston. Always an adventurer, Van was an avid sailor. He could often be found aboard his sailboat, The Flying Dutchman. He often wintered in Florida in his later years.
The funeral will be held Friday at 9AM from the O’Neill Funeral Home, 3102 Mendon Road, Cumberland, followed by a Mass of Christian at 10AM in Saint Joan of Arc Church, 3357 Mendon Road, Cumberland. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Cumberland. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Visiting hours Thursday from 5-8PM in the O’Neill Funeral Home. Flowers are welcome or donations may be sent in his honor to Save the Bay.
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