Obituary for
Cornelia Elisabeth "Cory" VanZonneveld
Long-time Vero Beach resident, Cory Van Zonneveld, passed away peacefully on November 18, 2016, at age 93 with family by her side.
She was born Cornelia Elisabeth Moolenaar in Sassenheim, Netherlands, on November 30, 1922, the third of eleven children. She married Willem Van Zonneveld (“Bill”), also of Sassenheim, in 1945, and the couple immigrated to the United States with their young family in 1948. They settled in Florida where they could continue the family flower business, moving to Vero Beach in 1953.
In the early 60’s, “Miss Cory” and her husband, “Mr. Bill”, as they were affectionately known to many, founded Cory’s Child Care and Development Center, which they owned and operated for over 20 years, advancing the early childhood education of numerous children in the community.
Cory was a community leader in Vero Beach for over 50 years. She was a founding member of the First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, an active member of the Treasure Coast Pilot Club where she was devoted to the launch of the Lifeline medical alert program, an emeritus member of the Hibiscus Circle of the Garden Club of Indian River County, and a member of the Vero Beach Chorale Society.
Singing, gardening, and entertaining were Cory’s passions. She sang with her church choir and with community choral groups. She was an avid gardener, winning praise for her beautiful gardens and prizes for her skilled floral arrangements. She (and husband Bill) loved to open their home and gardens to entertain and host family, friends, and guests from near and far.
Cory was predeceased by her husband Bill (of over 60 years) in 2007 and her youngest son Paul at age 15 in 1970. Cory and Bill donated a stained glass window to the First Presbyterian Church in memory of Paul. She is survived by her daughters Olske Forbes of Vero Beach, and Birgit Robbert of Arlington, VA; sons Fred Van Zonneveld of New Smyrna Beach, FL, and Hans Van Zonneveld of Vero Beach; granddaughters Beth Forbes of Greenwich, CT, and Lieske Renz of Louisville, KY; and grandsons Bo Forbes of Vero Beach, Drew Robbert of Arlington, VA, and Will Van Zonneveld of Vero Beach; and seven greatgrandchildren. In addition, she is survived by 1 sister (Kathleen) and 1 brother (Rob) in The Netherlands.
A service celebrating Cory’s life will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach on Wednesday, November 30, at 2:00 pm, on what would have been Cory’s 94th birthday. For those unable to attend, the service will live stream through the church’s web site (http://www.firstpresvero.org/). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the youth program of the First Presbyterian Church (520 Royal Palm Blvd., Vero Beach, FL, 32960). Online condolences may be shared at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com.
