- Date Of Birth: May 15, 1928
- Date Of Death: February 25, 2018
- State: Indiana
Bernedina Annamaria VandeZande was born on May 15,1928, to John and Marie (Swaters) Keultjes in South Bend, Indiana. Both preceded her in death along with her husband of 63 years Edward VandeZande and brother Henry (Hank) Keultjes. Bernie is survived by two sons Michael (Cheryl) of Bridgman, MI, and Stephen (Denise) of South Bend, IN; three grandchildren Bryce VandeZande of South Bend, Lea (Brad) Janitz of Chicago, IL, and Lilee VandeZande of Bridgman, MI; a great granddaughter Harper Marie Janitz of Chicago, IL; and two step grandchildren Sean Hoyt of Memphis, TN, and Shannon Hoyt of South Bend, IN. Bernie graduated from Washington Clay High School in 1946. On May 7, 1949, at Christ the King Catholic Church Bernie married Edward VandeZande, the other half that made her whole. It wasn’t Ed without Bernie and it wasn’t Bernie without Ed. Soon after marriage Ed and Bernie built a house in Indian Village, an incorporated town by Notre Dame near where Bernie had grown up, this was to become their home until Edward’s passing. Employed as a bookkeeper and payroll clerk until her first child was born, she started the career she was born to have as a mother, wife, homemaker, and caretaker to her parents and in-laws. She was active in her sons’ activities when they were young – Cub Scouts, parents’ club for school band – and helped organize the first hot dog lunch program at Christ the King grade school which was the beginning of the very first organized school lunch program. Bernie enjoyed reading, geography, history and traveling. She and Ed traveled 49 of the 50 states plus trips to Mexico, Nova Scotia and Vancouver Island. Many happy days were spent meeting new people and enjoying the sites on their tours. Mom especially enjoyed the Canadian Rockies and these trips provided many fond memories for when she could no longer travel. In their later years, Ed and Bernie volunteered at Healthwin Nursing Home for Sunday masses and joined Harvest House where they were officers until her health began to fail. After Eds passing, Bernie relocated to Holy Cross Village where she lived a socially active life for the past six years.
