Jeannine Van hecke

Character is defined as the set of qualities that make someone or something distinctive. Jeannine Van hecke was a woman of great character and an insatiable zest for life.

She possessed vast amounts of courage and viewed each day as a precious gift, embracing both the peaks and valleys along life’s journey. To Jeannine, life was not about accomplishments or the acquisition of material wealth, but about the relationships she fostered with those she treasured most, her family.

After four years of German occupation during WWI, Belgium emerged ruined at the end of the war, leaving them unable to effectively run their kingdom. During the 1920’s and 1930’s the kingdom was experiencing immense amounts of conflict and unrest as there was widespread disagreement regarding even which language would be declared the official one. Despite the difficult circumstances, life went on; babies were still being born and on July 22, 1929 Louis and Maria (Roman) Martens were celebrating the birth of their daughter, Jeannine. As one of five children in her family, she was raised on the farm where she was born in Ronse, Belgium.

The difficult times continued for the Kingdom of Belgium as history repeated itself in World War II when Hitler bombed Belgium into submission and took its king prisoner. The arrival of Allied forces in 1944 was followed by the Battle of the Bulge, which would decide the war's outcome. During these tight times nothing went to waste and families conserved what they could to survive, including Jeannine’s family.

Life took a pleasant turn when Jeannine met a young cyclist who lived in Ghent. His name was Ernest Van hecke and his family owned a small café in town. A romance soon ensued between Jeannine and Ernest and they were later married on January 6, 1949. For a time, the newlyweds worked in his family’s café while plans to come to the United States were always on the horizon. The couple was soon blessed with the birth of their first child, a son whom they named Gus. With his birth, their plans to come to America shifted into high gear. Soon after the birth of their daughter Beatrice, their dreams of coming to America did become a reality. At this time their family boarded a ship headed to Canada.

Life quickly became difficult for Jeannine while in Canada. During the first year here, she contracted tuberculosis and spent six months in bed, leaving her unable to see her children for long periods of time. A short while later Ernest joined the Canadian army and their family was shipped off to Germany. This was a period in Jeannine’s life which she fondly recalled, making many treasured memories with her family.

In 1958, the Van hecke family finally moved to Detroit before they finally settled in St. Clair Shores where they lived for over 30 years. They became active within their community raising homing pigeons and were members of various clubs and organizations as well. Jeannine was never one to be physically active but she would sit and use her hands to sew, knit, make porcelain dolls, and bead.

There were aspects of Jeannine’s personality that made her the unique individual that her family and friends knew and loved. Appearances were very important to her although she also let the opinions of others go in one ear and out the other. Jeannine often kept her opinions to herself, but one always knew right where they stood with her. Family was of the utmost importance to Jeannine and she was always concerned about the welfare of her family. Jeannine continually carried herself with integrity and class, giving her husband great cause to adore her, and that he did. Together they possessed a fulfilling marriage filled with vast amounts of mutual respect for one another and unconditional love as well. When grandchildren arrived on the scene, Jeannine delighted in them and they all called her Memé which means grandma in Belgian.

Life was not without challenges for Jeannine, however. In 1988, her beloved Ernest died, leaving her to draw strength from her family during these most difficult days. She pressed on, always one to face challenges head on and she moved to be with her daughter. Then in February of 2008, Jeannine was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but within just a few days of her diagnosis, she became a patient of a renowned surgeon who informed Jeannine of a course of treatment which included a very invasive surgery. In true Jeannine form, her response was, “When do we start?” The very next day she underwent the surgery which ultimately left her cancer free. Soon after her clean bill of heath, Jeannine underwent hip replacement, an experience Jeannine again faced with courage and she anxiously put the challenge behind her.

Whether she was tenderly caring for her children, creating a masterpiece with a needle and thread, or recovering from surgery, Jeannine Van hecke carried herself with grace, compassion, and vibrancy, bringing light and life to all those around her. It was no secret that her beloved Ernest adored her and that she cherished her family which came forth from a love story which spanned nearly 40 years. Jeannine was always keeping herself busy whether she was reading a book or gathering with various members in a club with which she was affiliated among many other interests. Jeannine lived each day to its fullest and made countless memories which will be forever etched on the hearts of all those she leaves behind. She will be dearly missed.

Jeannine B. Van hecke died on April 17, 2009. Jeannine’s family includes her daughter, Beatrice Salada of St. Johns and her son Gus Van hecke of Fenton, Michigan; her grandchildren, Alissa (Mitch) Munger of St. Johns, Christine Van hecke of Fenton, Dr. Thomas (Elizabeth) Van hecke of Berkley, Michigan, Edward Van hecke of Texas, Beatrice (Chris) Sushynski of Midland, Michigan and Kathleen Van hecke of Flint; grandchildren, Alexia Munger, Ariel, Skylar, Reese, Robert and Sidney Van hecke; her sisters, Roberta (Theodore) Salamon of Welland, Ontario, Canada, Godilieve Martens Vanmaele and Monique (Christian) Smolders of Belgium along with many nieces and nephews. Jeannine was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Emiliene Martens. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. Tuesday April 21, 2009 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns with burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery immediately following, with the Rev. Fr. Eoin Murphy officiating. Visit with Jeannine’s family and friends from 6-8 PM on Sunday April 19 and 2-4 and 6-8 Monday at Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns. A Vigil Service will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com, where you can leave a favorite memory or make a memorial contribution to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 2141 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 7000 El Segundo, CA 90245 or online at PanCan.org.