As I approach 60   it still seems like yesterday @ Scarborough Elementary. With Mrs. Van & all my friends. Mrs.  Van was my most favorite teacher. It made me very sad to hear of her passing. I hold dear to my heart the wonderful  memories of Mrs. Van,,  Scarborough & all my childhood friends. I know I will see her again when the Lord calls me home. I have thought of her often over the years. My youngest daughter has been teaching in an elementary school for about 13 years & I love how she stays in touch with her students & their parents. May God Bless & Keep each of you. Mrs an was loved by many children who are adults now, she has touched many. 

Mrs Van was my favorite teacher in all of my years in school.  She was my 6th grade teacher at Scarborough Elem.   I would often run into her at the Kroger's on Airline and Parker and she always remembered me and asked me about my mother and how we all were doing and if I had stayed in touch with those in my class over the years.  She never changed in all those years.  I will forever cherish knowing her.. may she rest in peace.  

I remember she was my most favorite teacher in 6th grade.  I grew to love her because she was good and was firm with her teachings. I got to know her and her boys . I hate that I am just learning she passed with everything going on in this world plus I didn’t have access to what mattered.  I hope family is doing good as they can losing a parent. She taught me everything I needed to know to succeed in life.   I wish I could have kept up with her so I could tell her but she knows.  Family: may the Peace of the Lord be with you all always.  And know she is with you always. In your heart and memories.

Julie Duke (Shoemaker)

Mrs Van is my heroine.  Her loving care as a teacher changed the course of my life and is the reason why I am now a teacher in England.  She helped my mother enrol me in the Vanguard program at Burbank Middle School.  Later, she came to my high school graduation and saw me receive scholarships to continue my study at college.  I am sad to learn of her death. Bless you Mrs Van you truly live on through the children in whose lives you wove your magic.
(Here is the only photo I have of Mrs Van, with a classmate on a field trip.)

So, so saddened to hear about Mrs. Van. She was such a wonderful teacher. She was firm and caring. And a wonderful memory she had!

I am so glad to have had her as a teacher. Condolences to her family. ❤️ 

Mrs. Van was so good with my boys.  She brought out the best in both.  There were not many teachers like her.

"Mrs. Van" changed lives.  This world is most certainly much better for her gift to her students over the many years that she was an educator.  My thanks go out to her sons who shared her with us, for whom she was deeply proud.  Mrs. Van peppered us with family stories as she groomed us for life.

I was an awkward kid in her 6th grade class at Scarborough Elementary in 1975-1976.  Mrs. Van was astute to the potential of all of her students despite a variety of abilities and humble backgrounds.  She identified different pathways to challenge each and constructive ways for all to work together.  She commanded the very best from all of us - we all blossomed with her guidance in ways that we would never have otherwise been exposed.  Most surprisingly, Mrs. Van advocated for my education and well-being long after I had moved on from Scarborough Elementary.  She did this with grand poise for all of her alumni.

I received a call from her when I was in my doctoral research; it was a wonderfully sweet chance for me to thank her.  All of the unbelievable things that I have since accomplished in my career could not be possible without her.  I will never forget Mrs. Van and the blessing that she gave me in life.  I know that all of my fellow students feel the very same.

Mrs. Van was absolutely the best teacher I ever had. I was in her 6th grade class at Scarborough Elementary 1968-69. She also taught my daughter, Amber, in her 5th grade year. She attended my wedding in 1996. I spoke with her less than 2 years ago and we were going to meet up shortly after. Unfortunately that never happened. I will miss this dear woman immensely. I want her sons to know what an inspiration she was to me. I know she will be missed by many. 

OBITUARY

Vena Mae Van Antwerp

12 March, 1935 – 14 June, 2019

American Heritage Funeral Home

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