Our beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away this week at her home in Maple Ridge on Whidbey Island. Lucille “Lucy” Vera Priestley Van Doren died peacefully in her sleep, at age 88, surrounded by three loving daughters.
Lucy was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Donald Van Doren, and her son, Jeffrey Van Doren.
Born in Toronto, Canada in 1921, Lucy and her family moved to New Jersey when she was a young child. She attended Douglass College (Rutgers University), held a master’s degree, and taught advanced high school math. She joyfully served as a high school guidance counselor for the latter part of her career. She loved teaching, being with young people and learning. Lucy was also a member of MENSA since 1966.
Lucy and Don made their first homes in New Jersey: New Brunswick, Normandy Beach, Lincroft and Atlantic Highlands. In retirement, they moved from the Jersey Shore to the Florida Keys and enjoyed many years of sun, boating, swimming and visits from family and friends. They subsequently split their time between Florida and Whidbey Island and especially loved being near the water.
Upon returning to Whidbey Island, and after the passing of her husband Don, Lucy was active at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland, attended activities at the Bayview Senior Center, and volunteered at the Freeland Senior Thrift Store.
Lucy was known for her wisdom, patience and her wonderful cooking: especially her signature spaghetti sauce, lobster and shrimp scampi, key lime pie, calamondin cake and famous lunch smorgasbords. She was an accomplished seamstress and made all of her own swimming suits. She loved to read novels and poetry and paid careful attention to the details in life.
Gramma Lucy (aka Great-Mama) is survived by daughters Holly Schoenknecht and Mary Torvik of West Seattle, formerly of Langley; daughter Lisa Alexander of Freeland; and daughter-in-law Maureen Van Doren of Jacksonville, Fla.; grandchildren Heidi Straub and family of Maple Valley; Katrina Kennard and family of West Seattle; David Schoenknecht and family of San Diego, Calif.; Peter Alexander and family of Langley; Lucy Di Lorenzo and family of Langley; Tim Alexander of Kennewick; and Amanda Van Doren of Jacksonville, Fla. Grandma Lucy also had 10 great-grandchildren. She adopted two cats (who adored her), Tikky and Linus, from the WAIF animal shelter.
Her family will celebrate Lucy’s life in a private ceremony on Whidbey Island.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, please tell someone special in your life how much they mean to you, and be there for them as she would have been, with all your heart.
If you would like to make a donation in her honor, Lucy supported Special Olympics, the World Wildlife Fund, PETA, the Humane Society, the American Heart Association, Smile Train and Doctors Without Borders.
