Ethel Corrinne Vanderhagen

ETHEL CORRINNE VANDERHAGEN (May 9, 1921 – July 19, 2013)

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Ethel Vanderhagen was born in Toledo, Ohio, on May 9, 1921, and died peacefully at home in Oceanside, California, on July 19, 2013. Ethel was an only child and was reared by her grandmother, Johanna Andres. She and her grandmother left Ohio and moved to Los Angeles in 1936, where she attended John Marshall High School and graduated in 1941. She went to work as an auditor for Citizen’s Bank of Los Angeles after high school.

Ethel met Robert (Bob) Vanderhagen in 1942, and they married in 1944 after he received his wings from the United States Army Air Corp. She stopped working for the bank and became a full-time mother in 1953 with the arrival of their daughter, Karen, and two years later with the arrival of their son Kevin. During their 69-year marriage, Ethel and Bob enjoyed numerous adventures, traveling the globe from the North Pole to the South Pole with friends and family.

Most important to Ethel were her faith, family, and friends. Her faith was a constant comfort and support – a given to rely on. She loved attending mass on Sunday (or Saturday), wherever she and Bob traveled in the world, and she always had some special tidbit or joke to share later about the homily or message of the day. Her Catholic faith was the guide that patterned her life and sustained her, and her spiritual beliefs were the foundation of her life.

Ethel’s marriage to Bob was a gift of joy for more than 69 years. They were devoted to each other, treating each other with respect, consideration, loyalty, and love. Most of all, they enjoyed being together and truly became one. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild were the spokes that made her wheels go round. Family gave her great joy, possibly because she was an only child, and she participated fully in their activities by becoming a Campfire Girl leader, Horizon Club leader, and president of Temple City High School PTA for four years. She loved to cook, and her grandchildren believed that “meals on wheels” was their grandma bringing them meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and brownies!

Ethel’s friends included her neighbors, fire department family, bridge partners, book club buddies, traveling companions, church friends, Bible study group, the Sunday breakfast bunch, and old long-time soul mates. She loved gatherings, parties, celebrations, and family reunions and always kept up with the latest news about friends and family. She was a friend in every sense of the word, phoning to say hello or writing notes of encouragement and support, even

when it became difficult to do so.

Part of Ethel’s legacy stemmed from growing up in the Depression, where she was taught how to make do, use up, or do without. She learned these lessons well. She was helpful and caring, hard-working and organized, yet she loved fun, adventure, and new experiences. She never complained of the daily inconveniences of her physical health, and “Mind over matter” was her philosophy. She was always upbeat and positive, never dwelling on the negative. She was a good sport, she was practical, and she gave down-to-earth advice when asked for it. She didn’t suffer fools easily.

Ethel is survived by her husband, Robert Vanderhagen, daughter Karen Sprink (Tom), son Kevin Vanderhagen (Grace), grandchildren Danica Pettigrew (Dennis), Greg Sprink (Veronica), Erik Vanderhagen (fiancé Melanie Brown), and great-grandchild Kaila James Pettigrew. She will always be loved and forever in our hearts.

In lieu of flowers:

•Interfaith Community Services

550 W. Washington Ave., Suite D

Escondido, CA 92025

(760) 489-6380

http://www.interfaithservices.org/

•Wounded Warrior Project

National Processing Center

P.O. Box 758540

Topeka, KS 66675-8540

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

•LAFRA (Los Angeles Firemen's Relief Association)

Widows, Orphans & Disabled

Firemen's Fund

815 Colorado Blvd., 4th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90041

http://www.lafra.org/

•Church of St.Thomas More

Mortgage Fund

1450 S. Melrose Drive

Oceanside, CA 92056

(760) 758-4100

http://www.stmoside.org/