ELAINE VAN DEN BERGHE

Elaine Van Den Berghe was born on Tuesday, October 5, 1937 to Henry and Eleanor Hansen. She lived in many different locales from Manistee, to Saginaw, to Ontario, California, ending up in Royal Oak. It was at Royal Oak High School that she met and married her first husband, Larry Baughan, with whom she became the mother of two children, Laura and Steven. In 1973, they relocated to Goodrich, living in the country on ten acres. She married her second husband, Donald Van Den Berghe in 1990, and they lived for 26 years in Shelby Township. She then became the stepmother of Linda, Catherine, and Michael. Between two bouts of breast cancer, Elaine finished her Bachelor's degree and went on to earn a Master's degree in counseling. She specialized in grief therapy often working with cancer patients and their families. When in their seventies, both retired spending winters at their home in Rotonda West, Florida. During their 26 years together, they were blessed with 11 grandchildren: Ross (26), Sean (25), Scott (24), Jamie (23), Miranda (22), Katelyn (22), Alyssa (20), Tyler (16), Julia (14), Shelby (14), and Aariona (1).

After a surprise diagnosis of stage 4 pancreatic cancer, Elaine endured seven weeks cared for by her husband, Don, who was greatly aided by Elaine's son, Steven Baughan and his wife, Debi, and her daughter, Laurie Graham and her husband, Dan. His children, Linda Clements, Cathy Knoblock and her husband, Chad, and Mike and his girlfriend, Tara, all assisted in making her final weeks and days as comfortable as possible. The family's task was made easier by the assistance and guidance of Reverence Hospice and wonderful friends, neighbors, and teachers with whom Don worked. Her final day in this world was January 1, 2017 with her ever faithful dog, Billy, lying next to her.