(Rouw),+Elly+Vandergraaf

18618 – 54A Avenue  Cloverdale, BC V3S 8L5, Canada johnelly.vdg@gmail.com
 * Elly (Rouw) Vandergraaf**

**1969:**After graduating from Skagit Valley College, I went to Vancouver, BC where I met my future husband.Before our marriage, I taught grades 5 and 6 in Vancouver.Continued part-time teaching the first few years of marriage and still do so occasionally.My husband, John, is cost accountant for Crestwood Kitchens Manufacturing in Richmond.In 1964 we took a company trip to Hawaii.We live in Richmond with our 2 children, Ricky 5 ½ and Janice 2.This summer we are taking a trip through Europe.That’s it in a nutshell.

 **1979:** After graduating from Skagit Valley College I went to Vancouver, BC where I met John Vandergraff. In 1962 we got married. During these years I taught in elementary schools. Soon children came along and put an end to my teaching career for a while. However, now I'm back at it again on a part-time basis. The last two years I have been in charge of the grade 6 curriculum in Socials and Science. I also do some substitute teaching. We have done quite a bit of traveling with the family. During March we enjoyed a two-week holiday on Maui. We also have been to California, Britain, Europe and Eastern Canada. We have three active children: Rick--15 (Just returned from Montreal as an exchange student), Janice--12, and Russell--8 1/2. My huisband is production manager and purchasing agent for a large kitchen cabinet firm. Presently, he is on a business trip to England and Germany. We enjoy our beautiful new home in Richmond with a view of the mountains, and have a very happy family.

 **1999:**As many of you know, I moved up to the great white north in ’61, married a Canuck, then became a Canuck and say “eh” after each sentence; I also say “again” as in “main,” and “roof” as in “goof”!! Currently, my husband and I reside in Cloverdale, a suburb of Greater Vancouver.Having lived in Richmond, BC 35 years, we pulled up our stakes and built our dream house on a hill with a view of the valley.What was to be a small rancher ended up 3500 sq. ft. on ½ acre!I love spending time in our large floral garden. My husband still works full-time as manager of a kitchen component manufacturing plant.This brings along many opportunities to travel and see many interesting places around the globe. We just celebrated our 37th wedding anniversary and have been blessed with 3 married children and 6 grandchildren (so far).Oh, to be the ultimate grandmother!! Besides spending lots of time with the grandkids, I also do some volunteering in the community and church….Lord willing, see you all in 2004!

 **2009:** After retiring from teaching in 1996, my husband and I moved from Richmond, BC, to the quiet community of Cloverdale. It is ten miles north of the U.S./Canada border. We built our dream home on half an acre overlookling the valley towards my old hometown, Mt. Vernon.  This year we are marriedd 48 years and we are blessed with three children, their spouses, and eight grandchildren.  If I'm not involved with the grand kids, you can find me working in our large garden. I even joined a garden club. There is lots of volunteering for church and community as well. We have seen many interesting places around the world and hope to continue travelling. Now that John's retired, we also spend more time "smelling the roses."  Looking forward to seeing you at the reunion!  Do you remember:

--Mr. Day's stinky cigars? --Mr. Beasley's "perfect" grammar classes? --and...how many of us took Mr. Murphy's advice to invest in gold when the economy is down?!

Still living in Cloverdale, beautiful, B.C. Canada with husband, John, on a half acre in our dream house on the hill with view of the valley. I love spending time in our large garden and making floral arrangements. In 2012 we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary and took our children and grandchildren, all 16 of us, on an Alaskan cruise. It was a highlight in our life. This year we received 2 more adopted grandchildren all the way from Lasotho, Africa...a boy 6yrs. and a girl 3yrs.old. Our grandchildren now range from 3 to 23 yrs. old. Our oldest and first grandchild just got married in August. Besides spending lots of time with family, volunteering in the community and church, I love traveling and reading. I have fond memories of the 4 years in MVHS, and wish all my classmates the very best.
 * 2014:**