Elizabeth Vaneekhoven, lovingly known to many as “Betty, Mrs. Van or Oma”, a mother, grandmother, pastor, and mentor to countless people in the Bordentown area, died Saturday, June 13, 2026 surrounded by her family and close friends, much too soon.

Betty grew up in Groveville and attended Groveville Methodist Church, where she participated in MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) and met her husband, Frederick Vaneekhoven. Together they formed a loving partnership, birthed four sons, changed a 2-bedroom bungalow to a 5-bedroom home, and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August 2022 with a return fishing trip to Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. Betty and Fred also had the pleasure of watching their seven grandchildren grow and showed endless loving support in their many activities over the years. In their free time, they enjoyed fishing, camping and traveling together, especially visiting extended family in France.

After Fred’s passing in 2023, Betty continued to honor all of their family traditions; family dinner nights, summer camping trips, weekends full of watching her grandchildren play soccer and softball and traveling the world.

Betty was a lifelong student, attending Trenton State for her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Education. She taught Health and Phys Ed. before making the transition to Guidance Counselor at MacFarland Intermediate School in Bordentown. She was a talented athlete and coached field hockey, softball, and basketball.

As a woman of strong faith, Betty went back to school after retiring from the Bordentown School District and earned her Master’s Degree in Divinity from New Brunswick Theological Seminary. She was the Pastor for Roebling and later Fieldsboro United Methodist Church. She was very active and devoted much of her time with the Greater NJ United Women in Faith Mission U Program. She currently attended Allentown United Methodist Church.

Daughter of the late Willard and Minerva Van Hise, Betty was predeceased by her beloved husband, Frederick E. Vaneekhoven, Sr. and by her brother, Dennis Van Hise. She leaves behind her sons and daughters-in-law, Frederick Vaneekhoven Jr., Jeffrey Vaneekhoven, Jonathan and Kristin Vaneekhoven, and Matthew and Danielle Vaneekhoven, her grandchildren - who were the light of her life - Lucas, Emily, Dylan, Aidan, Claire, Addison, and Julien. Betty is also survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Carl and Carolyn Van Hise and her dear friends, Melody and Robert Graham and Barbara and Clyde Boucher.

A time of condolence will be held on Thursday, June 18th from 6:00-8:00pm at the Groveville United Methodist Church (447 Church St., Groveville, NJ). A Celebration of Life service will take place on Friday, June 19th, at 3:00 pm in Groveville UMC after an hour of visitation beginning at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, for those who wish to remember Betty may offer a donation to the Greater NJ United Women in Faith Mission U Program Donations can be sent to:

Mission u c/o Carol Bloch
8 Kayharts Lane
Washington, NJ 07882

Memo line:
In memory of Elizabeth