Else (Beaufort) DeWilligen

Else DeWilligen (née Beaufort), age 89, of Jeffersonville, Indiana, passed away on January 12, surrounded by her loving family.

Born to Anton and Anne Beaufort, Else endured profound hardship early in life. As a young child, she spent several years in a Japanese concentration camp during World War II alongside her mother, Anne, and her sister, Peggy. After the liberation of Indonesia, the family was freed, only to be re-interned in a Dutch refugee camp during the 1947 Indonesian Independence Conflict. These experiences shaped Else’s remarkable strength, resilience, and lifelong compassion for others.

On May 10, 1974, Else immigrated to the United States with her children to reunite with the love of her life, Flores DeWilligen.

A breast cancer survivor, Else dedicated 20 years of her life to caring for others as a nurse’s aide at Clark Memorial Hospital. She found joy in cooking, gardening, and trying her luck at the slot machines at the casino. Above all, she was a devoted mother and grandmother who never missed a family event and whose presence was a constant source of love and support.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Anton and Anne Beaufort; her husband, Flores DeWilligen; and her sister, Peggy Beaufort.

Else is survived by her sons, Werner (Tonya) VanKleef and Etienne (Julia) VanKleef; her grandchildren, Monica (Jeremy) Little and John (Erin) VanKleef; and her great-grandchildren, Olivia and Oscar Little, and Marcel VanKleef.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 31, at Legacy Funeral Center – Scott Chapel, located at 921 Main St., Jeffersonville, IN 47130. Visitation will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with the service immediately following.

“We will forever cherish our mom and Oma’s strength, her love, and the sacrifices she made for our family.”

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