Jessie Van Devender

Jessie Lousie (Schminky) Van Devender, age 101, passed away peacefully on April 21, 2017. She had lived in Port

Angeles since 1996 and was a resident of Park View Villas since December 2014.

Born in Carlisle, Pa., to Albert and Florence (Hollinger) Schminky, she graduated from Pennsylvania State

University in 1938 with a Bachelor of Arts in Education and Music. She was a member of Chi Omega Sorority and

Mortar Board.

During this time, she spent summers in New York City, working at an orphanage teaching English as a second

language and earned a scholarship to Shanghai, China, but her father, anticipating war in the Pacific, urged her to teach English closer to home.

She married John H. Van Devender on November 28, 1941, and was soon following her husband from base to

Army base until the young officer left for the Pacific

Theater in World War II.

Upon John's deployment, Jessie worked at Bell

Laboratories in New Jersey before giving birth to John Jr. It would be almost three years before the family was reunited.

After the war, the couple lived in Pottsville, Pa., with their three children, then moved in 1959 to Reading, Pa., where Jessie worked for Camp Fire Girls as district and group leader, then as an elementary public school teacher, and John worked for Bell of Pennsylvania and sold real estate.

Jessie especially enjoyed volunteer work teaching

English to Vietnamese refugees and providing Meals on Wheels to the community.

Professionally trained in voice and piano, singing was a joy throughout her life. For 15 years, she found pleasure as a member of the Pennside Presbyterian Church choir. While in Reading, she composed "This Day I Stand Beside You," a wedding song published by Hal-Leonard Company.

In 1978, John and Jessie retired to Burnsville, N.C., where she served as Celo United Methodist Church organist.

The years in the Blue Ridge where idyllic, with time to create many hand-stitched quilts and beautiful smocked dresses for grandchildren. Creative sewing and knitting was always a work in progress, her sewing bag a steady daily companion.

Jessie took lifelong pleasure in her flower gardens. Her favorites were roses, zinnias and hollyhocks. The cold

cellar shelves were always well stocked with home-canned goods for winter feasts of Pennsylvania Dutch ham, string beans, pork and sauerkraut.

After John's death in 1994, Jessie moved to Port Angeles to be near her daughter's family. Once again, she made a new community her own, being active in First United Methodist Church, the Messengers choral group, UMW and the church's Clothes Closet until age 96.

She took pride for many years in helping students receive music scholarships through Monday Musicale. PEO sisters were cherished, as were so many others with whom she had the good fortune of crossing life's path.

Jessie is survived by two daughters, Jane L. Fletcher, and husband, Simon Fletcher of Port Angeles; and Susan E. Van Devender of Rockland, Maine; and a son, John H. Van Devender, and wife, Christa Van Devender of Brookfield, Conn.

She will be sadly missed by four grandchildren and their respective spouses: Elva Van Devender and Tye Dodge of Portland, Ore.; Gloria Van Devender and Michael Graves of Jacksonville, Fla.; Jessica Fletcher of Seattle, Wash.; and Sarah and Daniel Messenger of Goldendale, Wash. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren: Samuel Van Devender of Portland, and Piper, Joslin, and Fisher

Messenger of Goldendale.

Jessie was predeceased by her brother, Donald Hollinger Schminky of Mechanicsburg, Pa.

Jessie was a grand lady. Her family extends their deepest appreciation to the staff of Park View Villas and Volunteer Hospice who cared for Jessie and touched her life in so many ways.

A celebration of life took place at First United

Methodist Church and friends were received after Sunday service on Sunday, May 21, 2017. Private interment was in Mechanicsburg.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest donations be made in her memory to Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County, 540 East Eighth Street, Port Angeles, WA 98362.