Veronica Ann (Dobson) Van Dalen age 79, died peacefully on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 due to complications from a 7-1/2 year battle with ALS.
Born on Oct. 1, 1946 in Seaham, County of Durham, England. She was the daughter to the late John Soothan Dobson (retired Coal Miner) and the late Sarah Ann (Delaney) Dobson (house wife).
Veronica is survived by her husband of 42 years, Thomas J. Van Dalen (architect), who resides in Rock Hill, SC; her son William J. Van Dalen and his family, who reside in Lake Wylie, SC; her daughter Nadia Ann (Van Dalen) Papagiannis and her family, who resides in Chicago, Illinois; and her sister Marie (Dobson) Ferguson and her family, who reside in Sunderland, County Durham, England. She loved all of them very much.
Veronica graduated from Teaside University – Teaside, England as a primary school educator. She began her educational career as a primary school teacher in Seaham, England. She then moved to Kuwait where she was a primary school teacher at the Fahaheel English School in Fahaheel, Kuwait. It was there where she met her husband Thomas J. Van Dalen and his two young children. Tom was then recently widowed and lucky to find a new loving wife and mother; they soon became a new loving family.
In late 1984, Veronica and her new family moved to the Milwaukee area of Wisconsin, USA, close to where her new husband was born and raised. Veronica then went back to college and in late 1989 received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Arts from Cardinal Stritch University – Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She immediately began her new career as a College Administrator / Education Counselor with Cardinal Strich University.
Yearning for international travel, Veronica had the opportunity to go back to primary school teaching in an international setting in early 2008. She moved to Adana, Turkey to teach primary school to Turkish children at the Bashkent University – Primary English School in Adana, Turkey for 4 years.
Upon her permanent return to her home and family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2012, she then took up a part-time career as a caregiver to elderly and ill adults near her home, with Rent A Daughter, until she was diagnosed with ALS in early 2019.
Veronica and Tom joined there son William and family in Lake Wylie, SC in late 2020 and eventually moved into there house in Rock Hill, SC late 2021. It was there where Veronica spent her last days until the peaceful end of her life on earth.
In her spare time, Veronica enjoyed reading printed books, knitting and beeding until ALS took its’ toll. Her caring nature always brought comfort to all that knew her.
Her family would like to thank all those who provided care, comfort and friendship through out her lengthy battle with ALS.
In lieu of flowers, memorials or donations may be made to the Joe Martin ALS Foundation – Charlette, NC.