Obituary of Anne Louise Van Durme

Anne Louise Van Durme (Blum) has joined her loving husband Nicholas to celebrate Christmas in heaven. A Dansville resident most of her life, she lived her 90 years to the fullest and left peacefully on Friday, December 18, 2020. Anne was one of eight children of Norbe and Ella Blum and leaves three brothers and a sister behind. Anne had a 40+ year career as a Registered Nurse working at Dansville Memorial and Noyes Memorial Hospitals in Dansville in addition to a number of other nursing positions at facilities in Florida and Virginia during the years Nick and Anne spent in warmer climates. They always knew Dansville was home and they eventually returned to their roots to retire. Anne was a very active member of St. Mary's Church and was a driving force for Marriage Encounter, Cursillo, Eucharistic Ministers, Youth Retreats and many others. Her strong faith was the driving force to open the "Full Circle" Christian bookstore in the front room of the family home at 46 Perine St. Dansville. She was an active supporter of the Girl Scouts and a leader in the Candy Striper program at the Dansville hospitals. Along with daughter Clare, Anne helped found the Community Answers Needs Network (CANN). Anne's overarching devotion was to her husband Nick and their 10 children. Their large house on Perine Street was always bustling with activities with 10 children, their many friends, and several foreign exchange students over the years from Kenya, Sweden and Australia. When asked why on earth she would invite MORE people to live in the already full house, Anne would easily respond "I can't take all my children out into the world, but I can bring the world to my children." At the Van Durme home, the door was never locked, and friends were always welcome … there was always enough food for one or two more at the large dinner table! She always made her family feel like the Van Trapp family with sing alongs around the many campfires at Stony Brook Park or in the Adirondack Mountains. As Anne leaves to join Nick, she leaves behind their 10 children: Nora, Jean (Deb), Michael (Mary), Clare, Mark (Margie), Thomas (Lori), Matthew, Daniel (Patricia), Rachel (Matthew), Patrick (Lisa) and "11th" child Doug (Bonnie). And Anne would certainly want us to remember her "children from another mother" Francis, Per, and Joanne. She also leaves her sister Helen (Terry) and brothers Norbert (Maryann), Michael (Marie) and Robert (Martha). Grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and in-laws number in the hundreds – the growing legacy of Nick & Anne. In remembrance, the family requests donations to CANN. Please send any donations to CANN, C/O Clare Van Durme, 38 Jefferson St, Dansville NY, 14437. Due to the current COVID restrictions the family will be holding a "drive-thru" calling hours at 38 Jefferson St, Dansville from 2 – 4 PM, December 21st. The family respectfully asks that well-wishers wear masks and remain in their vehicles for the health and safety of all. Arrangents are by the Hindle Funeral Home, Inc. 271 Main St. Dansville. Online rembrances may be left at HindleFuneralHome.com. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary's Church, Elizabeth St, Dansville at 11 AM on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. Again, please abide by established COVID guidelines with masks and social distancing.