Elina (Elly) Van den Dyssel

Elina Van den Dyssel

Elina (Elly) Van den Dyssel passed away on Thursday, May 6 of natural causes at 83 years old. Born and raised in Holland, Elly moved to the United States in 1959 to marry her husband, Dirk. While the couple lived for a short time in New Jersey, they called Seattle home for almost sixty years.

Elly was preceded in death by her husband Dirk. She is survived by her sister Cornelia Kirchner, and her three sons, Jim, and wife Terri, Jeff and his wife Kami, Jared and his wife Stacie.

Nothing was more important to “Oma El” than family. She lavished her seven grandchildren, Sarahy, A.J. , Pierson, Hailie, Carson, Kayla, and Josie, with love, hugs, humor, home cooking and unconditional acceptance. A true “mom” to her core, she especially loved caring for younger children and enjoyed doting on her grandchildren and making them laugh with her tickles and goofy antics. She enjoyed watching both her children’s and grandchildren’s games and school activities. She prided herself in being a homemaker for her husband and family and supported her sons in their schoolwork, even learning the entire Gettysburg address as a display of solidarity and support.

Never breaking from Dutch tradition, Elly always found time for her tea breaks and was happy to share a cup and a pastry with anyone who would join her. If you were a friend of her children or grandchildren, you were family to her.

Elly loved nature. She was famous for her extensive flower garden and was quick to pull any weed she came across. She enjoyed travelling with her husband and many times with Corrie, including trips to Arizona, Hawaii, Texas, and regular trips to Vancouver which allowed them to shop at a favorite deli for Dutch specialties and to get in a visit to the Butchart Gardens. She also greatly appreciated the beauty of the Mt. Vernon tulip festival and family vacations to Lake Chelan. While Alzheimer’s may have hindered her recollection of specifics, she always recognized the beautiful faces of those she loved.