Elizabeth VanderHoek Compton

Elizabeth’s early years were in Ottawa, playing and helping out in her father’s grocery store. The family later moved to Toronto, where her violin teacher from the Toronto Conservatory of Music recognized her talent and recommended her for admission to that school. Although a family move precluded that, her love of music was a constant throughout her lifetime. So many of us remember how Elizabeth expressed her joy playing a range of music from classical to gospel on the piano and violin.

Because of the Depression, the family moved to Smiths Falls, where she graduated from high school. Elizabeth was accepted at McGill University; however, the high cost of tuition prevented her from attending.

During the war years, Elizabeth lived in Kingston with a friend of her aunt and went to work in the chemistry lab at an aluminum plant. She met Peter VanderHoek (stationed in Kingston for the Canadian Army) at a social function for the Christian Men’s Association. When the Army sent Peter to Saskatchewan, they married and moved west. After Peter’s discharge, they lived briefly in Vancouver, B.C., then returned to Smith Falls and began their family. Because of harsh winters working on the Canadian Pacific Railway, Peter and Elizabeth made the decision to move to Southern California in the early 1960s.

In the ensuing years, Elizabeth not only kept the home fires burning but worked outside the home—first in retail, then as a bank teller, and subsequently in progressively more responsible positions in Social Services for Orange County. During this time, she also completed an Associate’s Degree in Sociology by attending classes in the evenings. Elizabeth also studied and earned her Real Estate license and enjoyed hosting open houses. That blossoming career ended, though, when both Peter and Elizabeth retired. They first moved to Hemet for a few years, and then relocated to Tehachapi for two years.

Missing their friends, family, and colleagues, they moved back to Hemet. Many remember the gatherings and celebrations and their welcoming “open door” hospitality. In her signature hats, Elizabeth displayed her sense of style and playfulness.

After the death of her first husband in January 2009, Elizabeth found joy a second time around in her marriage to Edward Compton in November 2011. She and her loving husband shared almost three years together enjoying their mutual love of their Lord and their community of friends.

Elizabeth’s kind and friendly nature endeared her to many throughout the years, and she will be sorely missed.

Elizabeth is survived by her second husband Ed Compton and his family, as well as by her youngest brother Berwick Hyland and his family in Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada. Elizabeth was preceded in death by her first husband, Peter VanderHoek, and by two of their 7 children. She is survived by 5 children, 17 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren:

• Baby Christopher – died at age 4 months

• Tim and wife Ruth (Texas); children Shelley, Heather, and Richard; 8 grandchildren; and 2 great grandchildren

• Nancy (Oregon); son Justin

• Shauna (Florida); son Spencer

• Shawn and wife Ruby (Southern California); daughters Jennifer, and Kristen; 6 grandchildren; and daughter Tonya (Florida)

• Stephen (deceased) and wife Liz (Southern California); his daughter Crystal; and 3 grandchildren

• Mark and wife Beth (Virginia); children Rachel, Timothy, Peter, Philip, Daniel, Catherine, Joshua, and Barbara

We welcome Memorial Contributions in Elizabeth’s name to the following organizations:

The Gideons

PO Box 140800

Nashville, TN 37214-0800

Phone: (615) 564-5000

http://www.gideons.org/

Placing 1.9 billion Bibles and New Testaments in hotels, schools and colleges, prisons and jails, hospitals, and medical offices.

Braille Institute of America

70-251 Ramon Road

Rancho Mirage CA 92270

Phone: (760) 321-1111

http://www.brailleinstitute.org/ranchomirage.html

Serving the needs of the visually impaired with education, outreach programs, library services, and free one-on-one consultations with Low Vision Rehabilitation Specialists.

Las Vegas Rescue Mission

PO Box 270400

Las Vegas, NV 89127-4400

Phone: (702) 382-1766

http://www.vegasrescue.org/

Through effective, innovative Christian recovery programs, the Las Vegas Rescue Mission provides a path for men, women, and children who want to escape homelessness, addiction, and despair of the streets.