Evangeline "Van" Klein

Marie Madeline Evangeline "Van" Klein, 94, of Williamsburg, died Monday morning, April 18, 2016, at Hope Village.

Born September 6, 1921, in Limoilou within Quebec City, she was the eldest daughter of Wilfrid and Alma Rioux. After moving to Detroit around age one and coming of age, she became a U. S. citizen and remained proud of her Quebecois heritage. On January 21, 1950, at St. Mary's of Redford Catholic Church in Detroit, she married (the late) Robert Francis Klein.

While living in Detroit and Livonia she was a homemaker and mortgage loan specialist before her retirement, and she served the Rosary Altar Society at St. Suzanne and St. Genevieve Churches. As an avid artist and nature lover, she enjoyed painting birds, portraits, and landscapes, camping trips, and attending Master Gardener events with her beloved husband. At age 77, she valued her extraordinary trip to Burkina Faso with her niece, Charlotte (Klein) Varzi and her daughter in the Peace Corps.

She is survived by her children, Jeanne Klein, Ph.D., of Lawrence, KS, Roberta "Robyn" (Thomas Bowles) of Bozeman, MT, and Raymond (Monica) Klein of Centennial, CO; four grandchildren, Nathan, Hannah, Aaron, and Elizabeth; sisters Theresa (Art) Bak of Williamsburg and Helen Cockburn of Marysville; brothers Leo (Jeanette) Rioux of Royal Oak and Wilfrid "Willie" Rioux of Livonia; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Van will take place Sunday, April 24 from 5 until 8 p.m. at The Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, with the Rosary being prayed at 7 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, April 25 at Christ the King Catholic Church in Acme, with visitation one hour prior to Mass. The Rev. Father Raymond Cotter will preside. She will be entombed next to her husband at Oakwood Catholic Diocesan Cemetery in Traverse City.

In remembrance of Van, memorial contributions may be directed to mass intentions or to the Alzheimer's Association, 25200 Telegraph Road, Suite 100, Southfield, MI 48033.

Kindly share your memories with the family on their online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com .