Jozef A. ''Jos'' Vandermeer
May 8, 1934 ~ May 19, 2000
Resided in:
Weaverville, NC
Mr. Vandermeer was born in Belgium and was a son of the late Henk and Barbara Peters Vandermeer. His family moved to Holland when he was five years old where he stayed until moving to Weaverville in 1960.
He was an art teacher at the Asheville School and retired as Professor Emeritus from UNC-A where he taught Fine Arts for 25 years.
In 1984 he was ordained as a Deacon in the Diocese of Charlotte and had served as deacon at St. Eugene’s Catholic Church. He also served as volunteer chaplain for Mountain Area Hospice for 14 years and also at Mission/St. Joseph Hospital System and in prison ministry at Craggy. Jos had a very special gift in being able to minister to and comfort the ill and dying who received his gift of peace during their difficult times.
Along with his wife, he was a recipient of the Jefferson Award which is presented annually by WYFF Television Station, Greenville, SC, and they also received the Great American Family Award presented to them at the White House by Mrs. Nancy Reagan.
He is survived by his wife, Betsy Hoogma Vandermeer; eleven children, Miriam Harwood and her husband Larry of Leicester, Lydia Chiles and her husband Richard of Asheville and Magda O’Dell and her husband Michael of Greenville, SC, Marie Myatt of Raleigh, Theresa Vandermeer of Barnardsville, Tevenia Vandermeer of Beaufort, SC, and Sarah Williams, Chris Vandermeer, Scott Vandermeer, Kendra Vandermeer, and Latasha Vandermeer, all of Asheville; numerous foster children; eight grandchildren, Natasha Clabern, Anna Chiles, Jos O’Dell, Ariel Ramsey, Samantha Young, Michael Young, Jay Myatt and Tyquice Coddington; one sister, Magda Ficarra of Teaneck, NJ; and two brothers, Ad Vandermeer and Wim Vandermeer of the Netherlands.
A Celebration of Christian Funeral Memorial Mass will be 11:00 am Tuesday at St. Eugene’s Catholic Church with the Rev. Frank Cancro officiating.
A Prayer Service will be held at 7:00 pm Monday at St. Eugene’s Catholic Church after which his family will receive friends in the fellowship hall.
Memorials may be made to Mountain Area Hospice, PO Box 16, Asheville, NC 28802, or to St. Eugene’s Catholic Church Building Fund, PO Box 8160, Asheville, NC 28814.
Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is in charge of the arrangements.
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Betsty: my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in this time of sorrow.
My deepest sympathy to the Vandermeer family. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Dear Betsy and family,
My fondest memory of Jos was whenever he had to hold the bowl of holy water
for Father Frank and would get wet from all the exuberant tossings of the water
that Father would do. He would always hand Jos a towel and we in the congregation
would have a little chuckle about it. My children always said,’ There’s the
man who looks like Santa Claus!’ He was a very caring man and always had a kind
word to say. You are in our prayers and I will do my best to make sure that you don’t
become as you said,’ A lonely old woman’ . Love, Sandra
Betsy: you are truly a marvel. Now I know why Jos was such a happy person! Your strength and faith is an inspiration. I meant what I said, we are only 5 minutes away, so call anytime you need us! Bob & Barb McGrattan