Marie Catherine Vander Giessen

Marie Catherine Vander Giessen, 96, of Lynden, went home to her Heavenly Father on Monday, March 10, 2014, surrounded by her loving family. Marie was born on Dec. 28, 1917, in Shepherd, Mont., to John and Adrianna Lagerwey. At the age of 20 she moved with her family to Lynden. On Jan. 24, 1940, she married the love of her life, John Vander Giessen. They walked side by side for 71 years. Together they had five children. Her passion in life was her children. She was a devoted wife, loving Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother and Great-Great-Grandmother! She and John owned and operated a dairy farm for many years. After moving off the farm, Marie worked outside the home at both Lynden Christian Rest Home and Van Zanten Nursery. After retirement, John and Marie were blessed to spend their winters in Palm Springs, Calif., enjoying sunshine, family and good friends. In her spare time you could find Marie either knitting, reading or involved in some type of group game activity. Marie will always be remembered for her hard work and compassion for others. She was a devoted Christian which was shared in her compassion for everyone she met. She was a long-time member of First Reformed Church in Lynden. She is survived by her five children: Dale (Seki) Vander Giessen, Jim (Karen) Vander Giessen, Andrea (Harv) Hendricks, Annette Scholten and Karen (Darrrel) Timmer. She is also survived by sisters Alida Crabtree, Claus Schouten, brother Matt Lagerwey and sisters-in-law Jolene Lagerwey, Joyce Lagerwey, Winifred Vander Giessen, Ada Vos and Hetty VanderGiessen. She was proud of all her family. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers John, Bill, Arie, Gerrit, Johan, Nick and Marinus Lagerwey; sisters Minnie Konyenbelt and Katherine DeKoster; and two grandchildren, Sheri Scholten and Brad Timmer. Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, in Gillies Funeral Home. Graveside services will be conducted at 2:15 p.m. on Friday, March 14, in Monumenta Cemetery followed by a 3 p.m. memorial service in First Reformed Church, 610 Grover St., Lynden. Memorial donations are suggested to: Christian Health Care Center, 855 Aaron Dr., Lynden, WA 98264. You are invited to share your condolences in the online guestbook at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.