This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/8344 Message Board Post: Daily Independent newspaper Ridgecrest CA Kern County June 1, 2005 ELLA MAE VANDER HAGEN 1912-2005 Longtime California resident Ella Mae VanderHaegen passed away at her home in Ridgecrest on May 15, 2005 at the age of 92. A memorial service ill be held at the Ridgecrest Presbyterian Church on Thursday June 16 at 1 pm. A close family friend Rev. O. William Hansen will lead the service. Mrs. VanderHaegen was born on Nov. 23, 1912 in Holyoke, Mass. to Aaron Wilbur and Josephine Cecilia Lake. While she was in high school her family journeyed across the United States and settled in the Glendale area. She graduated from Hoover High School then earned a four year scholarship to continue her education at the University of Redlands. She thoroughly enjoyed her time at the university where she was a pre-med student and graduated in 1935. Upon receiving her Bachelor of Science degree, she attened Boston University Medical School. She ten began a twenty-year career as a laboratory technologist, working for medical groups both in Massachusetts and California. She met the love of her life Gustave VanderHaegen on a blind date in Boston on Oct. 9, 1940. Gus had recently arrived from his native land of Belgium and was workig in New York in the restaurant business. After many trips back and forth between Boston and New York Gus and Ella Mae decided to head to California where on June 8, 1942 they began their marriage of 56 years. They had one daughter Christina (Tina) Frisbee whom they reared in Sherman Oaks and later in Apple Valley. In 1957 she and Gus started their second careers as they opened a real estate office in Apple Valley known as "Gus VanderHaegen Realty." Although the medical field was her first love, she chose to join her husband as a real estate broker. Through their real estate business this husband and wife team formed many lasting and cherished friendships. For many years they were very active in the Victor Valley Realty, Apple Valley Rotary Club and Presbyterian Church of the Valley in Apple Valley. For the last eleven years of their marriage they lived in Laguna Hills where they enjoyed attending exercise classes, traveling, visiting with friends and being members of Geneva Presbyterian Church. Upon Gus' death Ella Mae decided she wanted to move to Ridgecrest to be close to her family. She loved the wonderful blue sky, mountains and wildflowers of the desert and rarely did a day go by that she didn't mention how grateful she was for her family and how much she enjoyed living in Ridgecrest. For six years she made her home at High Desert Haven and felt very fortunate to have such a friendly place to call home. Mrs. VanderHaegen was preceded in death by her husband Gustave, by her two brothers Aaron and Edgar and their wives, and by her sister Evelyn and her husband. She is survived by her daughter Tina and her husband Monte Frisbee of Ridgecrest, grandson Eric and his wife Julie Frisbee of Ridgecrest, grandson Marc Frisbee of Ft. Collins, Colo., great-grandson Trevor Frisbee and great-granddaughter Taylor Frisbee, both of Ridgecrest and many caring nieces and nephews in California, Massachusetts, Main and Washington state. Since she was a 30 year cancer survivor, friends and family may choose to send a donation to the American Cancer Society. Media information provided by the family. News Review newspaper Ridgecrest CA June 15, 2005 ELLA MAE VANDERHAEGEN Longtime California resident Ella Mae VanderHaegen died at her home in Ridgecrest on May 15, 2005. She was 92. A memorial service will be held at the Ridgecrest Presbyterian Church on June 16 at 1 pm. A close family friend Rev. O. William Hansen will lead the service. Mrs. VanderHaegen was born Nov. 23, 1912 in Holyoke, Mass. to Aaron Wilbur and Josephine Cecilia Lake. While she was in high school her family journeyed across the United States and settled in the Glendale area. Ella Mae graduated from Hoover High School then earned a four-year scholarship to continue her education at the University of Redlands. She thoroughly enjoyed her time at the university where she was a pre-med student. She graduated in 1935. Upon receiving her bachelor of science degree Ella Mae attened Boston University Medical School. She then began a 20 year career as a laboratory technologist working for medical groups in both Massachusetts and California. Ella Mae met the love of her life, Gustave VanderHaegen on a blind date in Boston Oct. 9, 1940. Gus had recently arrived from hs native land of Belgium and was working in New York in the restaurant business. After many trips back and forth between Boston and New York Gus and Ella Mae decided to head to California where on June 8, 1942 they began their marriage of 56 years. They had one daughter Chritine (Tina) Frisbee, who they raised in Sherman Oaks and later in Apple Valley, Calif. In 1957 Ella Mae and Gus started their second careers when they opened Gus VanderHaegen Realty in Apple Valley. Although the medical field was Ella Mae's first love she chose to join her husband as a real estate broker. Through their business this husband and wife team formed many lasting and cherished friendships. For many years Ella Mae and Gus were very active in the Victor Valley Realty, Apple Valley Rotary Club and Presbyterian Church of the Valley in Apple Valley. For the last 11 years of their marriage they lived in Laguna Hills where they enjoyed attending exercise classes, traveling, visting with friends and being members of Geneva Presbyterian Church. Upon Gus' death Ella Mae decided she wanted to move to Ridgecrest to be close to her family. She loved the wonderful blue sky, mountains and wildflowers of the desert, and rarely did a day go by that she didn't mention how grateful she was for her family and how much she enjoyed living in Ridgecrest. For six years she made her home at High Desert Haven and felt very fortunate to have such a friendly place to call home. Ella Mae was preceded in death by her husband Gustave, by her two brothers Aaron and Edgar and their wives and by her sister Evelyn and her husband. She is survived by her daughter Tina and husband Monte Frisbee of Ridgecrest, grandson Eric and wife Julie Frisbee of Ridgecrest, grandson Marc Frisbee of Ft. Collins, Colo, great-grandson Trevor Frisbee and great-granddaughter Taylor Frisbee, both of Ridgecrest, and many caring nieces and nephews in California, Massachusetts, Maine and Washington state. Since Ella Mae was a 30 year cancer survivor in lieu of flowers friends and family may choose to send a donation to the American Cancer Society Submitted by the family of Ella Mae VanderHaegen