Obituary of Kathryn Ann van Renesse

Kathryn Ann van Renesse, 65, of Bridgeport, CT, beloved wife of Diederik van Renesse, died Saturday, March 24th, 2012 at home, surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was born February 6, 1947 in Stamford, CT, daughter of William F. Jones and Carol Morehouse Jones. Kathy was a direct descendant of Elder William Brewster, a signer of the Mayflower Compact, and Cotton Mathur, the renowned Pilgrim preacher. She was a graduate of Moravian Seminary for Girls and Cornell University School of Nursing. After her marriage to Diederik van Renesse in 1971, she spent 15 years in school nursing at Rumsey Hall School in Washington, CT; Miss Hall's School, in Pittsfield, MA; and Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, CT; and over 20 years as an R.N. in the Emergency Department at the Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield. The family moved to Bridgeport in 2005, restored their home on Brewster Street, and Kathy continued to be involved in the preservation of existing historic properties in the Black Rock district by helping to create the Black Rock Historic Preservation Association. Kathy, an avid gardener, was a member of the Black Rock Garden Club, and was instrumental in creating the Black Rock Reading Garden at the newly restored Black Rock Library. Six years ago, as one of its founding board members, Kathy helped to establish The Breast Cancer Emergency Aid Foundation which has given over $420, 000 in assistance to women with Breast Cancer. In addition to her husband, her survivors include two sons, Reid van Renesse and Benjamin van Renesse both of Brooklyn, NY, and a daughter, Anneke van Renesse and her husband Jeffrey LaValle of Bronx, NY. She leaves two sisters, Nancy Clarke of Peterborough, NH, Susan O'Keffee and her husband Richard, of Berwyn, PA, and a brother, William Jones, Jr. and his wife Gretchen of Wexford, PA. As well as a granddaughter, Mya LaValle and a grandson, Hendrik van Renesse-Ebara and many nieces, nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews. The family will receive friends at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien on Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. A service will be held at the Edward Lawrence Funeral Home, 2119 Post Road, Darien on Wednesday, March 28th at 1:00 PM. Burial will follow at Spring Grove Cemetery in Darien. In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to the Breast Cancer Emergency Aid Foundation, P. O. Box 616, Westport, CT 06881. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820