Grandma's Obit

Cornelia Lucia Vande Merwe Asmus (Corrie) (Grandma Oma) 12 / 25 / 28 - 2 / 2 / 2013 Bountiful, Utah - Mom passed away peacefully at the age of 84 at the home of her daughter Lis, surrounded by her children and sister. She was born and raised in Dordrecht, Netherlands, a daughter of Jan & Cornelia Wetter Vande Merwe. She emigrated with her parents to America in 1947. In 1949, Stephen Asmus, the love of her life, followed her to America and on March 21, 1949, they were married for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. She devoted her life to service for others at which she was very gifted and talented. She served as a teacher in the first Special Needs Primary and Mutual organizations. She was a CNA at the South Davis Community Care Center and later worked as a volunteer at the care center, having lovingly attended to the compassionate needs of the patients. She was always a devoted and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. One highlight of her life was serving as a missionary in the Washington D.C. South Mission from 1994 to 1995. Her husband had passed away from cancer 49 years ago in 1964. She then faithfully raised her children as a single mother. Her children gave her fullness of joy in her life. Her husband Stephen, daughter LaVerle (McCurdy), and grandsons Michael McCurdy, Cameron and Carter Smith, and Brandon Ruiz, have now enjoyed a reunion with her in heaven. She is also preceded in death by her parents, and also her brothers Peter, Joe, and Adrian Vande Merwe, and her sister Lena Goble. She is dearly missed by her children, Lena (James) Swihart, Lucy (Stan) Nygaard, Matthew (Janet Barlow) Asmus, Lisbeth (Steven) Simmons, LeEtta (Dan) Poppe, Lalita (Charles) Smith, and Navajo foster daughters Carmelita Jones Nelson and Ronnie Stevens Wauneka, who all love her dearly. She is Matriarch to 34 grandchildren and 61 great grandchildren. Survived by her brothers John, Steve, and Bill Vande Merwe, and her sister Bea Vande Merwe. A viewing will be held on Friday, February 8, at the Russon Brothers Mortuary at 295 North Main in Bountiful, Utah, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 9, 2013 at the Bountiful 1st Ward Tabernacle, 50 South Main Street, Bountiful, Utah, at 11:00 a.m. A viewing will be held at the Bountiful Tabernacle prior to the service from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at the Bountiful City Cemetery. Online guest book at www.russonmortuary.com. A special thanks to the loving care provided by IHC Hospice.