Priscilla R. (Hamilton) Van Veldhuizen
Priscilla R. (Hamilton) Van Veldhuizen, 78, of Aberdeen, SD, died Monday, August 28, 2023, at home in Aberdeen.
Priscilla Ruth LaGrandier was born on November 10, 1944, in Staten Island, NY, the youngest of four daughters of Mary (Nellie) and Damaso Otilio LaGrandier. After high school in Brooklyn, NY, Priscilla obtained her Registered Nurse (R.N.) degree from the University of New York.
She enlisted in the Air Force as a nurse at Homestead AFB in Florida. It was there she met her first husband, Dr. James E. (Ed) Hamilton, an Optometrist. She was then sent to Libya to serve in a small hospital. Upon her return, which coincided with the end of her military career, she and Ed were married.
After a brief time together in Tennessee, Ed and Priscilla moved to Houston. Priscilla continued her educational pursuits while Ed finished his master's degree in public health and taught at the University of Texas Optometry School. They left Houston in 1976 for Aberdeen, SD, where Ed took a role with the Indian Health service and Priscilla started working as a R.N. at St. Lukes Hospital. She continued her education at Mount Marty College, Yankton, SD, to complete her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and obtained her Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Degree.
Through this role, her ministry was fully realized via her daily care of patients in the surgical suites. As part of her dedicated and caregiving nature, she would pray for each patient going into surgery, assuring them she would stay through the recovery process. Many patients she cared for still remark over the years how thoughtful and reassuring that was to them during a worrisome time. In addition to her role at the hospital, she served as Parish Nurse at First United Methodist Church (now Aldersgate). Her servant career continued as she gave her whole heart caring for physical and emotional needs of the congregation. Priscilla stepped down from the Parish Nurse role, so she could spend more time with family and care for her mother until her mother’s death in 2003.
In 2006, she retired from her ~30-year ministry through her work at St. Luke’s. She was very active leading and participating in multiple church groups (e.g., cancer and Veterans support, prayer group, communion for nursing home residents) and cared for Ed until the time of his death in 2009.
She passionately loved music, which was demonstrated, in part, by her involvement in the Living Christmas Tree for numerous years, taking piano and violin lessons as an adult, and membership in the Aberdeen Area Old Time Fiddlers and the Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association (BOTMA). Priscilla was full of energy, enjoyed sharing her delicious cooking with others (often in 5-coursemeals!), and giving happiness with her fun sense of humor.
In 2016, she began dating Don Van Veldhuizen whom she had known since she moved to Aberdeen through both families’ membership at First Baptist Church. They were united in marriage in June 2017. They enjoyed time together for approximately two years, after which the journey of Priscilla’s dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease would become their journey of life together. Through Don’s love and care, plus that of numerous in-home healthcare providers and friends/family who provided care-relief time, Priscilla was able to remain in their home until the time of her death.
Grateful for having shared Priscilla’s life are her husband, Don; sister Sylvia (Frank) Rosario; nieces and nephews - Heidi (David) Choi, James (Maria) Rosario, Cheryll Sepulveda, Orlando (Diana) Sepulveda, and Charles Sepulveda; great nieces and nephews – Amber and Ashley Choi, Jade and Christian Rosario, and Nick Sepulveda; Don’s daughter (Meri Kay Scott and family) and son (David Van Veldhuizen and family); and dear friends – Peggy and David Bunsness, Jackie DeMarce, Grace Graf, Karen Armstrong, Mary Cutler and Marie Jensen.
Preceding Priscilla in death were her parents; first husband, Ed Hamilton; and sisters Gladys Sepulveda and Nancy Sepulveda.