Obituary of Elsie Canning

CANNING Elsie, age 88, died peacefully on Saturday, July 2, 2011. Born in Paterson, she lived in Wyckoff for sixty years. Elsie worked for many years at the Wyckoff Board of Education. Later, she completed her B.A. at William Paterson and her M.S.W. at Rutgers. She touched many lives as a psychiatric social worker at Bergen Pines. After retiring, Elsie volunteered as a watchdog for the NJ State Ombudsman's office at the Christian Health Care Center, and subsequently served there as a volunteer visitor. She also participated in the Women's Healthcare Initiative. Elsie was a parishioner at Church of the Nativity, Midland Park. Elsie is survived by her son George Canning of Leesburg, VA; daughter Nancy Canning of Albany, CA; daughter Jane Van Haasteren (husband James) of Fanwood, grandchildren Katherine and Andrew Van Haasteren; and sisters Hattie Bee of Saratoga, CA and Norma Geiger of Totowa. Elsie was predeceased by her beloved husband James, in 1963. Friends may visit the family on Wednesday, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home (vpfh.com), 257 Godwin Ave., Wyckoff. Funeral Service, Thursday, 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by private cremation. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wyckoff Public Library, 637 Wyckoff Ave., Wyckoff, NJ 07481.