Susan Van Lenten

On February 28, 2025, Susan Van Lenten, 55, was called by the Lord to eternal rest.  She was born on August 10, 1969 in Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ to William and Carol Douma. She met the love of her life, Michael Van Lenten, just two days later when he was born in the same hospital—fate had brought them together from the very beginning. She is survived by her devoted husband Michael Van Lenten of 34 years, her loving children Tyler Van Lenten, Kayla Van Lenten, Brooke Van Lenten, and Erin Bristol and her husband Jamie. She is also survived by her parents William and Carol Douma, Father-in-Law David J Van Lenten, and sisters Laurie Tanis, Brenda De Jong Pryor, and Donna Miller. She is predeceased by her Mother-In-Law Joanne Van Lenten, and Brother-In-Laws Todd De Jong and Trevor Van Lenten.

Susan was raised in Midland Park, NJ and attended Eastern Christian Schools K-12.  She and her three sisters, Laurie, Brenda, and Donna spent Sundays in Midland Park Christian Reformed Church where their parents instilled a passion to learn and trust in the Lord’s word. At Eastern Christian High School Susan displayed her excellence in volleyball, basketball, and softball while cultivating lifelong friendships with many of her peers. It was there that she fell in love with Michael. They got married in 1991 and soon thereafter had four beautiful children.

Susan had many passions in life—baking, her morning “Jesus Walks” in the park, days spent at the beach in Long Island, and kayaking on Green Pond. But more than anything, she loved being a mom. She filled her house with unconditional love and reminded her four children how special and adored they were each day.

Susan’s life changed forever when she was diagnosed with Primary CNS Lymphoma in 2012. She faced the impossible challenge of relearning how to walk, talk, and navigate daily life. Despite it all, she remained positive, resilient, and steadfast in her faith. She told everyone that it was her Faith, Family, and Friends that supported her through her many treatments. “Every day is a gift,” she would say. And she truly lived by that.

She called herself Super Spectacular Survivor Susan—a title she rightfully earned after beating brain cancer, not once, not twice, but four times. Just as she named herself, she had a special gift for giving everyone she met a nickname, each one carefully chosen to reflect their unique strengths and best qualities. Cancer took so much from her, but it never took her spirit. She fought fearlessly every day until her last breath—exactly 13 years from the day that her brain herniated and she almost died in 2012.

We will miss the bright light that Susan brought to this world, but we have peace knowing that her suffering has ended. Her memory will continue to live on through the lives that she has touched. She fought the battle, and she won.

Visiting hours for Susan are 4:00 to 8:00 pm on Friday, March 7 at the Vander Plaat Funeral Home, www.vpfh.com, 257 Godwin Ave, Wyckoff, NJ 07481.  A Celebration of Life service for Susan will be held 11:00am on Saturday, March 8 at the Midland Park Christian Reformed Church, 183 Godwin Ave., Midland Park, NJ 07432.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Susan's memory may be made to Lighthouse, PO Box 227, Hawthorne, NJ 07507.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Susan Van Lenten, please visit our floral store.