Cornelia Helena De Jong Veenstra, daughter of Martin P. and Marie Van Wyngarden De Jong, was born near Leighton, Iowa, on June 14, 1918. She received her early childhood education at a country school near her home.

On December 5, 1940, she was united in marriage with Lambert Veenstra. To this union seven children were born: John, Marvin, Charles, Bernie, Carrie Ann, Eddie, and Marie Rose.

Cornelia and Lambert made their home on the farm east of Taintor where they raised their family. Cornelia delighted in caring for her family and being a farmer's wife. She enjoyed baking, gardening, sewing, and crocheting. She made many many blankets for missions. As her family grew and left home, she was particularly happy when they all came for dinner on Sundays. She loved her family and her church.

Cornelia was a member of the Peoria Christian Reformed Church where she made profession of faith at an early age. She was also a member of the Ladies Aid group all her life. Cornelia passed away on Friday, June 12, 2009, two days short of her ninety-first birthday, at the Mahaska Health Partnership in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

She is survived by her six children and their spouses; seventeen grandchildren; thirty-four great-grandchildren; her brothers: Henry (Jeanetta) De Jong and Rev. Wilbur (Marilyn) De Jong; and one sister-in-law: Gretta Veenstra.

She was preceded in death by: her parents; her husband, Lambert in 2003; their daughter, Marie Rose who died at the tender age of nine; her sister, Wilma who died in infancy; and her brother James De Jong and his wife Nellie.

Family:

John and Betty Veenstra - Taintor, Iowa
Kimberly and Jeff Holton - Johnston, Iowa
Zachary and Lillianne
Karen and Will Keuning - Knoxville, Iowa
Emma and Trenton

Marvin Veenstra - Pella, Iowa
Krisanne and Michael Myers - Des Moines, Iowa
Lucas, Brendan, Ryan, and Joshua

Charles and Marlene Veenstra - Sioux Center, Iowa
David and Joani Veenstra - Tinley Park, Illinois
Jessica, Matthew, and Hannah
Steven Veenstra - Zeeland, Michigan
Rachel and Ryan Kroll - Onalaska, Wisconsin
Abigail and Ethan
Leann and Lance Nunnikhoven - Des Moines, Iowa
Noah and Landon

Bernie and Nella Veenstra - New Sharon, Iowa
Karla and Keith Bowe - Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Alexis, Ethan, and Emily
Dennis and Suzy Veenstra - New Sharon, Iowa
Jocelyn
Kenneth and Kari Veenstra - Pella, Iowa
Nickolas
Julie and Jordan Hoogland - Maurice, Iowa
Brooklyn and Sydney

Carrie Ann and Phil Bloem - New Sharon, Iowa
Missi and Jamie Bogaard - Crown Point, Indiana
Tyler, Isabella, and Andrea
Lori and Ryan Eekhoff - Bigelow, Minnesota
Marissa and Wyatt
Rochele and Brent De Ruyter - Lynden, Washington
Blake, Grant, Taya, and Jaydn
Katie and Levi Nunnikhoven - New Sharon, Iowa
Josina and Lucas

Ed and Deb Veenstra - Otley, Iowa
Amy and Shawn Smith - Knoxville, Iowa
Carter
Jenny and Will Van Weelden - Pleasant Hill, Iowa

FUNERAL SERVICES

10:30 A.M., Monday, June 15, 2009
Peoria Christian Reformed Church
Peoria, Iowa

VISITATION

After 11:00 A.M. Sunday, June 14, 2009
at the Pella Garden Chapel Funeral Home
Family will be present 2:00-4:00 P.M.

MEMORIALS

Peoria Christian School Endowment Fund

---