Gloria Gretchen VanDeCruze

Gloria Gretchen VanDeCruze was born on September 22, 1937, to Donald Hugh Sylvanus Delph and Hagar Louise Delph in Mahaicony, Guyana. She was the second child and first daughter to her parents who had nine children.

Gloria’s father was a police officer, which meant that the family moved to various parts of the country whenever he was transferred. They finally settled in Georgetown, where Gloria attended Tutorial High School. As the oldest daughter in the family, Gloria assumed many responsibilities at a young age. She helped manage the household and took care of her siblings. They fondly called her “Sister”. To her extended family and church family, she is also known as “Cousin Gloria” or “Sister Van”.

Sister Van excelled in sewing, cooking, and hospitality as a young woman. She accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at the age of 16. As soon as she accepted Christ, Sister Van was devoted to the Lord's service while attending the Charlotte Street Pilgrim Holiness Church in Guyana. She always spoke fondly of her spiritual mentors, who included Rev. Holder, Rev. Knupp, Rev. Litezel, Rev. Solomon, and her best friend, Dr. Walter Eversley. She held offices in the Youth, Women, and Sunday School Departments. Her passion was to see young people saved and serving the Lord. It was there that she met and married Ralph Sydney VanDeCruze in 1960, and they remained married until his passing on December 24, 2009. This union produced seven children: Esther, Grace, Samuel, Ralph, Eunice, Leon, and Denise.

In 1978, the VanDeCruze family migrated to New York City, where Sister Van began formal nursing training. Sister Van became a member of the Miller Memorial Nazarene Church in Brooklyn. Later, when Sister Van and her family moved to their home in Queens, she joined the Jamaica Queens Wesleyan Church, which was founded by her brother, Rev. Sherlock H.S. Delph. Sister Van was devoted to her family and instilled strong spiritual values in her children. In addition, Sister Van was a founding member of the Pilgrim Overseas Missionary Society (POMS), where she pioneered the scholarship for students attending the Wesleyan Church in Guyana

Despite her many responsibilities, Sister Van remained focused on achieving her own personal goals. She became a United States citizen. After completing her studies at New York Community College, she obtained her LPN and RN licenses. Sister Van was dedicated and took great pride in her full-time jobs as a nurse at Jamaica Queen General Hospital and Creedmoor Hospital. She loved her work, and caring for people came so naturally to her that she never considered it “work”. It was a labor of love and one of her greatest ministries. Sister Van was well-liked and respected by her colleagues and her patients. She was steadily promoted, overseeing nurses, aides, and auxiliary staff before retiring from both jobs in 2001.

Sister Van served as family nurse, school nurse, and church nurse. She nursed many in her home, including her mother, who lived with her, her husband, 3 of her brothers, and many other relatives and friends.

Many of her church family sought her advice during times of illness and distress. Her home was known as the “Ellis Island” for those who were sick and in need of healing. There are many individuals whom she cared for and nurtured back to health in her home.

During her retirement, Sister Van became an avid traveler. She accompanied her children on several diplomatic trips, met several heads of state, cruised throughout the Caribbean and Europe, and attended the national prayer breakfast in Washington, DC, where her stylish hats wowed many. She was also a frequent cruiser and remarked that one of her favorite things to do was sitting on the deck watching folks who had disembarked run up to the gangway to catch the ship before its departure. Altogether, Sister Van visited over 20 countries. However, her favorite trips were to Guyana, where she would meet with students, past and present, who were POMS scholarship recipients.

In her final years, Sister Van struggled with Alzheimer’s and dementia. She was able to fulfill her wish of remaining in the comfort of her home. Although bedridden, she remained a source of joy to those who cared for her. Her longest serving aide, Angela, said, “It was truly an honour taking care of Sis Van. She walked this life before us and has given so much of herself and made possible the life we all enjoy at church and in her family. It’s a true blessing spending her last days with her.”

Sister Van was preceded in death by her husband, Sydney; her parents, Donald and Hager; her siblings, Gordon, Sherlock, Leon, and Joye. Sister Van leaves (not to mourn, but) to look forward to a glorious resurrection and reunion: her children: Esther (Brian), Grace (Marcus), Samuel (Monette), Ralph (Lucy), Eunice, Leon, Denise (Sven); and stepdaughter, Norma (Telisford). Grandmother of 11: Nneka Blue, Niasia, Josiah, Samantha, Emily, Samuel, David, Esther, Joshua, Sydney, and Neo, in addition to Marcel, Kyle, and Mira. Great-grandmother of Zeb. Sister of: Keith (Veronica), Michael, Wendy (Frank), Godwin, and, in addition, Pauline. Sister Van is also survived by a host of relatives, including nieces, nephews, cousins, and an amazing sister-in-law, Marjorie Frank, who, at 102 years old, still recalls the day her brother wed Gloria.

As the matriarch of the family, Sister Van’s presence will be greatly missed. We are blessed and thankful for the privilege of knowing and loving her. We rejoice in the knowledge that Sister Van has passed the barrier of time as we know it and is forever at home with the Savior she faithfully served for 72 years. We give thanks for the life of Gloria VanDeCruze, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, and for her Godly legacy. As Sister Van transitioned away from this world, we believe that she was immediately welcomed into the arms of our loving Heavenly Father, with the words Sister Van had longed to hear her entire life: "Well done thou good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of thy Lord."

Lovingly Submitted,
The Family