It is with heavy hearts we announce that our beloved mother, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother, went home to the Lord on December 8, 2012.

Helena Marie Jansz was born on November 8, 1918, to Gertrude and Dirk Jansz in Pella, Iowa. She grew up there, later moving to California.

In 1962, she and her husband, Wendell Hill, settled in Oxnard where she remained until the last three years of her life. There she worked in Civil Service at the Port Hueneme Naval Base and loved it! She and Wendell traveled extensively in their motor home, enjoying every minute of it Wendell passed away in their home in Oxnard after 25 years of marriage.

Marie loved God and encouraged her children to love and have a relationship with Him as well. She had a quick wit and a great sense of humor. She loved to have a good time and laugh. She and her husband, Sam Deane, loved Dixieland music and would travel in their motor home to concerts. They also joined a square dancing club and later enjoyed round dancing as well. A few years ago Marie was widowed again after 24 years of marriage to Sam. In Marie's advancing years she joined the Silver Tones Choir at Ventura Missionary Church. The choir was a real blessing to her.

It was a very sad time when, due to failing health, she had to leave the choir. In 2012, confined to a wheel chair, Marie moved to a residential care facility, Crestwood Villa, in Ventura. One of her children was able to take her to church for another two years until it was too difficult for Marie. Marie was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend. One of her children referred to her as Florence Nightingale because she was such a fabulous caregiver when anyone was ill or hurt. And when any of her girls had a baby, she was there to take care of them and help with the baby for a week longer.

It was very difficult saying goodbye, but Marie's struggle is over and she is now reunited with her mother, father, brothers and sisters in Heaven. She was especially anxious to see her mother again. Marie loved giving to charities and, true to her nature, she left her body to Science at UCLA.

Marie was preceded in death by Wendell and Sam; her parents; her sibling, Martha Kuyper, Bill Jansz, Bert Jansz and Cora Hollebrands; her beloved first grandson, David Crone; and her son-in-law, David Katz. She leaves behind her four children, Dennis Ling, Valerie Katz, Martha Jansz, Cynthia Nicholas and Cynthia's husband, Larry; eleven grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

See her original Obituary posted in the Ventura Star.