Obituaries

Patricia Hample Heijn passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her books and her clippings on October 29, 2015. She is survived by her children: Riki Cavanaugh, Jansje Schmitz, and Paul (Beverly) Heijn all of Fremont; five grandchildren: Ezra VanBuskirk, Pieter (Leslie) VanBuskirk, Jon VanBuskirk, Martin (Ramona) Cavanaugh, and Kathleen Cavanaugh; and 4 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Jacob Heijn, her parents, and her brother.

She was born on September 29, 1924 in Minnesota, raised in Oakes, North Dakota. She received her nursing diploma and moved to Minneapolis where she met her future husband in a dance hall. Jake followed her out to California and they were married. After college he taught in several cities and they moved to Fremont in 1958. Pat worked as a R.N. until she retired. She was a 69 year member of P.E.O. and a life time Girl Scout. She was a troop leader in the 60’s and 70’s and enjoyed many adventures and camping with the troop who called themselves the “Purple Ding-a-lings”.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Pat on Saturday, November 14, 2015 at 2pm at Fremont Chapel of the Roses, 1940 Peralta Blvd., Fremont, CA 94536. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Girl Scouts of Northern California Camp Improvement Fund to help ensure that generations of girls can attend Girl Scout Camp. www.girlscoutsnorcal.org/donate or mail to Girl Scouts of Northern California, 1650 Harbor Bay Pky. Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94502.