Corry Stoelinga

Corry Stoelinga (van Heerwarden), 96, of Glenview, IL, passed away peacefully on November 12, surrounded by the love of her family. Corry was born on July 5, 1929, at home on the island of Texel, the Netherlands to Cornelis van Heerwaarden and Marie van Heerwaarden (Witte).
Corry grew up on a small family farm in Holland during the trying times of the Depression and World War II. She was the third child of 11, and the first in her family to complete secondary schooling. She learned the values of hard work, family, and thriftiness during these formative years, which shaped her character throughout her life.
Corry left the island and set off on her own as a young woman, working as a bookstore salesperson and family nurse in Utrecht and Amsterdam. She was an industrious and independent spirit, taking on adventures uncommon at the time for a young woman raised on a small, rural farm.
While attending a dance in Amsterdam with her girlfriends, she met a Dutch-speaking American GI from Chicago on the last dance of the evening. They exchanged letters across the ocean and a romance blossomed. Jack proposed and she accepted out of her deep love for him and her faith in God. But she also knew full well that this adventure meant a lifetime commitment, a new family, and starting anew in the United States - a half a world away from her own family and life as she knew it.
Faith and prayer were Corry's guiding lights in all things both large and small. For many years she was a devoted servant and leader in the Charismatic Renewal movement and in her Catholic parish community.
She lived a life as colorful as the stunning flower garden she passionately nurtured each summer. She was also an avid reader, loved the challenges of solving crossword puzzles by herself and as a group effort, and was a wizard with a sewing machine.
Above all, Corry's joy in life was her family. She cherished each family gathering and every visit from a child or grandchild, and never forgot a birthday. Corry was a devoted wife to Jack; loving mother to her five children Diane (partner Tom), Edwin (partner Julie), Eric (Mary née Raseta), Mark (Amy née Locatelli) and Tim; beloved Oma to thirteen grandchildren Ryan, Joe (Katharine née Schmidt), David (Anna née Ferrarini), Madeleine, Katherine, Jacob, Bennett, Dylan, Annelies, Luke, Elm, and Isaac; proud Great Oma to her two great-grandchildren Jonathan and Charlotte Rose.
She is survived by sisters Riet (Martin) and Annelies (Jan), and brothers Jan (partner Willie) and Kees (Ellie), and preceded in death by brothers Thys, Jaap, and Dick, and sisters Hanna and Jos.
Please join us in celebrating Corry's life at her visitation on Thursday, November 20 from 4 to 8 pm at N.H. Scott & Hanekamp Funeral Home, 1240 Waukegan Road, Glenview, IL. A funeral mass will be held Friday, November 21 at 12 noon at St. Catherine Laboure Church, 3535 Thornwood, Glenview, IL. Prior to mass, a brief visitation will also be held at St. Catherine's at 11:30 am. Interment following mass at All Saints Cemetery, 700 N. River Rd., Des Plaines, IL.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Catholic Relief Services ( crs.org ) - providing worldwide aid to communities in need, or to Water for Life ( waterforlifecharity.org ) - providing fresh water globally to communities lacking this precious resource.