Elizabeth "Bette Van Houten" Verblaauw

Elizabeth "Bette" (nee Van Houten) Verblaauw, 94, died Monday evening, September 22, 2025, at Windmere Christian Health (formerly Holland Christian Home).

Bette was born in Prospect Park on November 29, 1930, to the late John Van Houten and Lena Breeman. Bette graduated from Prospect Park Public School (1945) and Hawthorne High School (1949). Bette was a lifelong member of the former Bethany Reformed Church in Prospect Park, NJ. She met and married her one love, John Verblaauw, on June 13, 1953. Together they had three children: Ronald Edward, Cheryl Ann, and Susan Beth.

John and Bette bought their first home on Suncrest Avenue in North Haledon in 1959, forming lifelong friendships with their neighbors.

Bette spent many years at home caring for her family, her parents, and her in-laws, Adrian & Cornelia Verblaauw. Later, she joined her husband, working part-time at his accounting practice. After John's sudden death in 1985, Bette continued working at the practice for several years and moving on to work for Citizens First National Bank and its various successors until her retirement.

In retirement, her time was spent in traveling with friends and volunteering with the Auxiliary at the Holland Christian Home where she formed many close friendships. Bette took up residency at the Holland Home in 2007 and was active in the various activities and resident committees.

Bette is survived by her son, Ronald (Emanuel Meli), and daughters, Cheryl Legemaat and Susan (Jan Legemaat); grandchildren Douglas John (Stacy Collier), Cheryl Lynn, and Steven Peter (Sonya Lehman) Verblaauw; David Melis (Kyle Grimes), Robert John (Kaitlyn Meyer), Melissa Ann (Arthur Vooys), Michelle Elizabeth, Cori Sue, John, and Jeffrey (Anne Velier) Legemaat; 18 great-grandchildren, her sister-in-law, Marion Remijn, and niece and nephews. Bette is predeceased by her husband, John, her parents, and her brother Jack.

The Verblaauw family will receive friends on Friday, September 26 from 4:00 – 8:00pm at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff, NJ 07481. A funeral service will be held on Saturday 10:00am at the Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Laurel Grove Memorial Park, Totowa.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bette's name to the charity of your choice.