Patricia Mary Vander Lans

Patricia Mary Vander Lans died peacefully in her Long Beach home on Friday, February 5, 2016. Her devoted son, John, was by her side. Patricia was born in Newfoundland, Canada in 1932 to Fred and Marian Oakley. She grew up happily there with her older sister, Helen. Pat met and married William Newton, Sr., and together made their home in Long Beach. They welcomed son, Bill in 1955. A tragic plane crash took her young husband's life and Pat was widowed. She handled her grief and loss with characteristic, strength and courage. She later met and married attorney John A. Vander Lans, and they had a son, John T. Vander Lans who went on to become a Project Executive for McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. John A. Vander Lans practiced law in Long Beach and was elected to serve as Long Beach City Prosecutor for 20 years. She was a supportive wife and loyal partner to him until his death in 2001. All who knew Pat were captivated by her elegant style and graceful beauty. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, neighbor and friend. Pat was known by many in the East Long Beach neighborhood where she raised her family as "Aunt Pat." She was soft spoken, but a woman of great fortitude. She will be remembered as extremely kind, thoughtful and generous person. Her sister-in law, Nadine Vander Lans said it best, "Pat was easy to love." Patricia, besides being a loving mother of two children, John and Bill, she was a successful business woman, an avid golfer who spent considerable time in her Palm Desert home and an active member of the community. A longtime member of St. Gregory's Episcopalian Church, she was a woman of deep faith. She was a member of the Junior League and Lawyer's Wives of Long Beach. She is survived by her son, John and granddaughters, Emily and Ashley Vander Lans; daughter-in-law, Lori Newton and granddaughters, Christina, Katherine and Jacquelyn Newton; brother-in-law, Leo Vander Lans, three nieces and two nephews. Pat VanderLans was preceded in death by husband, John A.Vander Lans; son, Bill Newton and daughter- in-law, Kelly M. Vander Lans. Services will be held on Friday, February 12, 2016 at 10:00 AM, St. Gregory's Episcopal Church, 6201 E. Willow Street, Long Beach. California 90815. Graveside service to immediately follow at All Souls Cemetery, 4400 Cherry Ave. Long Beach, CA 90807. Celebration of life to commence at 1:30 PM, Virginia Country Club, 4602 North Virginia Road, Long Beach, California 90807. In lieu of flowers, please help support the fight to end breast cancer with a donation to Susan G. Komen - Race for Cure. Please make check out to out to Susan G. Komen - Race for the Cure and mail to John Vander Lans, 20401 SW Birch St., Suite 300, Newport Beach CA 92660.