Former Wyckoff First Lady, Funeral Home 'Matriarch' Honored By Council

WYCKOFF, NJ — A longtime Wyckoff resident and community volunteer was recognized with a proclamation from town officials.

Elizabeth "Betty" Vander Plaat, a former Wyckoff first lady referred to by her son as the "matriarch" of the local funeral home, was honored for her love of family and community by the town committee at Wednesday night's meeting.

"The Lord has been very good," the community staple said in accepting the proclamation.

Vander Plaat, age 96, was married to the late John C. "Jack" Vander Plaat, a former Wyckoff mayor (1961, 1968) and namesake of the Vander Plaat Funeral Home — which his grandfather established in 1894.

Founded in Garfield, the Vander Plaat Funeral Home was expanded into Wyckoff in 1952, four years after John Vander Plaat and Elizabeth got married. The couple moved to Wyckoff the same year, as the peaceful suburb was seen as the "ideal location" to raise their three children, the proclamation read aloud by the mayor said.

Once established in Wyckoff, the Vander Plaats became heavily involved in town, including with the volunteer fire department, where John became a firefighter and Elizabeth became a member of the Ladies Auxiliary.

"She was seen many times serving coffee and water to our firemen," the proclamation read by Mayor Tom Madigan said.

Notably, Elizabeth Vander Plaat was the first president of the Eastern Christian Children's Retreat auxiliary in Wyckoff, as plans were made by the organization to build a home for children with disabilities, the proclamation said.

Vander Plaat's and her husband's passion to help others led the couple to become involved in the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee and American Red Cross, where, together, they responded to disasters throughout the U.S., including California earthquakes, New York storms, and Florida hurricanes.

"If there was a need, they would respond in an instant," the proclamation said.

Elizabeth Vander Plaat lives today in a Passaic County retirement home, for which she had previously served on the executive board, and her "greatest happiness" is most evident in her three children, six grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren, the proclamation added.

"Betty's fierce dedication and overwhelming love for her family was always expressed best with her cooking and baking, and Sundays were dedicated to church and family," the proclamation said. "She always took joy in the fact that she had a large crowd to feed, because it meant they were together."

A few tears were shed in the packed town hall court room as Wyckoff applauded the former resident for her multiple hats, and wished her a happy belated birthday and many more years of good health.

"Thank you all for coming to celebrate this time with Mom," her son Jay Vander Plaat said after the proclamation was read. "Mom appreciates everything that you've done for her over the years."