Cover photo for Melissa Vanjoske-Cole's Obituary
Melissa Vanjoske-Cole Profile Photo

Melissa Vanjoske-Cole

July 1, 1981 — March 25, 2024

Melissa Vanjoske-Cole

Melissa Vanjoske-Cole, mother of three and teacher of many, moved away to heaven in the early morning of Monday, March 25th. She was struggling with a vast amount of health issues and couldn't beat a particularly bad case of Influenza. She died surrounded by family, at Kishwaukee Hospital in Dekalb, IL. Over the course of her life, Melissa has been many things: a daughter, a sister, a mother, a wife, a foster parent, a teacher, a good friend, and someone who has never stopped helping people no matter if she knew them or not. She was born in Aurora, IL and grew up in Newark, IL. She married Timothy Cole (he was in the military) and moved all over the US before having her first daughter, Kaitlyn, on a Military base in North Carolina. Around that time, she went back to school, getting her Bachelors in Middle Grades Education and Masters in Education Administration. Then she had her second daughter, Sarah, and son, Matthew, in Sedalia, MO.  During her younger years as a mom, she wrote a teaching memoir called "To Be or Not to Be: All in God's Time".  She moved around the country constantly, teaching high school algebra wherever she went. While in Deridder, LA, she was introduced to the idea of fostering children, and started with two kids through her church. When she came back to Illinois in 2019, she eventually got her foster parent license and housed five kids at different times. Besides taking care of kids, her hobbieso included: Crocheting, drawing, watching musicals, and worshipping Jesus.

She is preceded in death by Sarah Moore (Great Grandmother), Ernest and Bev Vanjoske (Grandma and Grandpa), Raymond and Edna),  (Great Grandpa and Great Grandma), Verna Hartle (Great Grandma), Jackie Vanjoske (sister-in-law), and Dave Coomer (uncle).


She is survived by Kaitlyn, Sarah, and Matthew Cole (Children), Mark Vanjoske and Ashley Barger (Brother and fiancé), Becca and Joe Goins (Sister and Brother -in-law), Steve and Shirley Vanjoske (Parents), Pearl Coomer (Grandma and best friend), and many nieces and nephews.


Melissa Vanjoske-Cole will be laid to rest on April 6th, but as for her soul, she's already at rest in the sweet arms of Jesus.

Memorial Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2024 from 9:00 A.M. - 1:30 P.M at Beverage Family Funeral Home, 104 Terry St, Sandwich, IL 60548. A memorial service will be held immediately following at 1:30 P.M. at the funeral home. A celebration of life will take place afterwards at Lee’z Place, 2738 N. 48th Rd Sandwich, IL 60548. Arrangements were entrusted to Beverage Family Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.beveragefamilyfh.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Melissa Vanjoske-Cole, please visit our flower store.

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