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| Jacqueline Van Smoorenburg Yelick Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 1:46 PM PDT December 17, 1956 – September 20, 2009 After more than eight years of fighting breast cancer Jackie has finally won her battle. She had the courage to end her treatment for the disease on her terms and seek peace. We are very proud of her not only for the manner in which she, against horrible odds, repeatedly forced the cancer into remission but for the way in which she continued to live life to the fullest. She is and always will be a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. Born in Holland, to Henk and Corrie Van Smoorenburg, she is the sister to Marja (Bert), Jook (Jean), Niek (Alexandra), Henriette (Andre’), Anita (Saa), Michel (Anja) and Alexandra (Paul). She is the loving aunt to Hiltje, Sebastian, Peuw, Pjotr, SiaTania, Jonatan, Barbara, Charlotte, Bram, Bo, Luc, Lieke, Imke, Rens and Femke. In Holland she earned a degree in nursing and had a career as a nurse to severely handicapped children and as a caregiver to young children in a day care center. She is the wife of Steve Yelick, mother of Caitlin Yelick, sister-in-law to Dennis Yelick, and cousin-in-law to Susan L. Rankin. Coming to America in the late 1990’s on what was to be only a year or two stay, she sought and earned a degree in graphic design from the College of San Mateo and when her illness would allow, she completed various projects for her clients with creativity, dedication, taste and style. During her life in America she resided in San Mateo, and at the time of her death, in Pescadero, California. She became a dual national holding both US and Dutch citizenship. Jackie loved to travel and during her illness was able to visit Africa, Central America and Vietnam. The family would like to thank California Cancer Care, UCSF Breast & Brain Cancer Centers, The Dorothy Schneider Cancer Center, The Seton Hospice Center, and all the doctors, nurses and staff, whose loving care helped ease the strain of this journey for her. You are all truly remarkable people, each and every one of you. As well, the family would like to thank all her friends, who are too numerous to name and who showed so much love and support to and for her and our family every single day, of every single week, of every single month of every single year she fought to endure. Your kindness gave her such strength, and we can never express in words what we feel in our hearts for all of you. Even though she never really had a chance to know the people all that well and them her, the family would as well like to thank the people who live in and around Pescadero, CA. because living in this wonderful place the last years of her life brought so much joy to her and the town wouldn’t be what it is if not for the people who reside there. She is the best example of a good person one could find and one who in every manner gave you honesty, her friendship and love with no strings attached. She strove to enjoy the simplest things in life, her cactus, the flowers, the trees, the ocean and the beauty that she saw in the world where others might pass quickly by. Please remember her as not someone you’ve lost but as someone who will always be with you. In lieu of flowers please make a donation in her name to any worthy charity or institution you may wish to that fights against any form of Cancer. Jackie will be cremated and services are pending. The family will shortly announce the time and location of a private ceremony where we wish to celebrate her life, which was far too short but truly well lived. Thank you one and all for all your love and support, The Yelick Family COLMA CREMATION & FUNERAL SERVICES 650/757-1300 www.colmacremation.com |