Obituary of Elizabeth Agnes Van De Vaarst

Elizabeth A. (nee Knox) Van de Vaarst, age 95, died on Sunday, April 25, 2004 at Somerset Medical Center in Somerville. Born in New Brunswick to the late John and Elizabeth Carlin Knox, Mrs. Van de Vaarst had lived most of her life in North Plainfield before residing in Brandywine of Middlebrook Crossing in Basking Ridge two years ago. As a foster mother, Mrs. Van de Vaarst and her husband Herman have raised over 100 children for the United Family & Childrens Society in Plainfield. Mrs. Van de Vaarst enjoyed knitting and sewing. She was a member of the North Plainfield Senior Citizens and the Warrenbrook Senior Center. Mrs. Van de Vaarst is predeceased by her husband Herman, her son Jack, four brothers, Merrit, Francis, John and Bayard Knox; two sisters Henrietta Gray and Minnie Vandursen, who died this past week. She is survived by two sons, Howard L. Van de Vaarst of Somerset and Herman Van de Vaarst of Livingston; three daughters, Betty Burke of Somerset, Anne Rand of Hillsborough and Sharon Bolger of Basking Ridge. Nineteen grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and 9 great-great-grandchildren. The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, April 28th at 10 a.m. in the Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Boulevard, Watchung. Interment will be at Lake Nelson Memorial Park Cemetery in Piscataway. Visitation will be on Tuesday, April 27th from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. in the funeral home. Donations may be made to: Muhlenberg Hospice Fund, Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, Park Avenue & Randolph Road, Plainfield, NJ 07061