Jeanne Tomkins VanDuivendyk

Jeanne Ann Tomkins VanDuivendyk died on April 12, 2024 with husband Tim, children, and grandchildren at her side. Jeanne was born February 13, 1948 in New Orleans, LA to Yvonne Francis Pedarre Doelling and Walter Edward Doelling. She was the eldest of her siblings: Patsy, Betty and Johnny. After elementary, middle and two years of high school in Baton Rouge, the family moved to Houston, where she graduated from St. Agnes Academy high school.

Jeanne went on to study Home Economics at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and graduated in 1970. At LSU she met and married Tom Nevil Tomkins. They had two children, Jefferey Paul Tomkins and Julie Marie Tomkins. After Tom’s death in 1976, she raised Jeff and Julie as a courageous and loving single mother with constant support from her parents, siblings, their spouses, and the Tomkins family. In 1983 Jeanne was blessed with a loving marriage to Timothy Paul VanDuivendyk. Their union created a beautifully blended family, adding daughter Abby Lyn VanDuivendyk and son Erik Paul VanDuivendyk to her life.

For 25 years Jeanne was a health care professional in non-clinical education at the Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital. She served on and had leadership of the Partners In Caring (PIC) mission at Southwest Hospital. After leaving Memorial Hermann she served for 10 years as coordinator of the Hospital Volunteer Program at the Houston Methodist Hospital Sugar Land. Since high school, she was nurtured by and worshiped at the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Houston. During the past more than forty years, Jeanne spent her Monday evenings creating art with her beloved painting group that supported each other through life’s joys and sorrows. At times they even painted. Since retirement in 2017 she was a member of the Charity Guild of Catholic Women. In retirement she enjoyed more time for traveling, RV camping, gardening, reading and her children and grandchildren. Jeanne faithfully kept up with extended family, friends, classmates, and colleagues. They have been a constant and loving source of support for her, especially during this last year of illness.

Jeanne is survived by her husband Tim VanDuivendyk; children Jefferey Tomkins and his wife Amy Clark Tomkins; Julie Tomkins, her life partner Pablo Savinon; Abby VanDuivendyk; and Erik VanDuivendyk and his wife Stacy Padgett VanDuivendyk. She is survived by two sisters, Patsy Hyland and Betty Miller and brother John Doelling and his wife Karen. Also, she is survived by 6 grandchildren: Isabel Tomkins, Josephine Tomkins, Caroline Tomkins, Mary Elizabeth Tomkins, Chase VanDuivendyk and Kyndal VanDuivendyk. She was preceded in death by husband Tom Tomkins, her parents Walter and Yvonne Doelling, and brothers-in-law Richard Miller and James Hyland.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church at 12 noon May 4th at 8200 Roos Road in Houston with celebrant Father Wayne W. Wilkerson. Visitation with family will be Friday evening May 3rd from 5 to 8 PM with prayers and comments at 6:30 PM. Visitation is at The Settegast-Kopf Funeral Directors 15015 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land. In lieu of flowers the family asked that you consider a memorial gift to St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, MD Anderson Hospital, The Methodist Hospital Sugar Land, or the charity of your choice. To share a memory or leave a condolence please visit Jeanne’s obituary page at Settegast-Kopf.