DOB/DOD: June 10, 1890 (Grand Rapids, Michigan) – October 4, 1981 (Lake Wales, FL); 91 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Kenneth H. Ringrose [1902-1957]
CHILDREN: One daughter, Lucy Ringrose Clarke [1935-2016]
LOCAL ADDRESS: 46 Gregory Boulevard, Norwalk
FAMILY: Born to Cornelius [1867-1934] and Dena Van Bendegom Van Couvering [1869-1950]. Five sisters, Cornelia Van Couvering Morgan [1888-1962], Gertrude Van Couvering Richards [1896-1977], Della Van Couvering Byrnes [1898-1992], Cora M. Van Couvering Howard [1900-2005], and Ruth Van Couvering Kellogg [1904-1987]. Two brothers, Christian [1893-1965] and Jay C. [1907-1967].
OTHER: Graduated from the Connecticut Nurses Training School, now a part of Yale University, in 1913.
SERVICE DATES: Worked in General Hospital #9, Chateauroux, France, August 19 – September 5, 1918. Transferred to Mobile Station on September 28, 1918, and worked in Italy and France until her honorable discharge on August 7, 1919.
From The Norwalk Hour August 20, 1918
Miss Jeanette Van Coevering, of Gregory Boulevard, has received orders from the United States government to report tomorrow at Base Hospital No. 1, Lakewood, New Jersey, from whence she will be assigned to some unit for overseas duty in the hospitals. Miss Van Coevering has been expecting the call for some time and has been busy receiving congratulations from her many friends upon her entrance into the service.
From The Norwalk Hour October 11, 1918
MISS VAN COUVERING IS NOW SAFELY OVERSEAS
Miss Jeanette Van Couvering of Gregory Boulevard, East Side, who recently volunteered as a Red Cross nurse and who went to Base Hospital No. 9, Lakewood, New Jersey, has arrived safely overseas with her detachment, according to a card received by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Van Coevering this morning. Miss Van Coevering is a graduate nurse and passed her examinations for service some time ago. According to word received, Miss Van Couvering sailed for France on October 1. Her many friends in this city will be pleased to hear of her safe arrival, and it is expected that letters will be received from her shortly.
From The Norwalk Hour January 7, 1919
GREETING FROM A STALWART AMERICAN SERGEANT
Letters received from Miss Jeanette Van Coevering of Gregory Boulevard, who is in France, being stationed at a hospital with her unit only twenty miles from Chaumont, General Pershing’s headquarters, are full of interesting news and give many of her impressions of France and the conditions there. Miss VanCoevering, it will be remembered, went to Lakewood, New Jersey, this past summer and shortly afterward was sent to France with one of the nursing units. She is stationed at Neuf Chateau, and she told in one of her letters how one day, when she was standing at the side of the roadway shortly after the signing of the armistice, watching some of the American soldiers marching along, she heard a voice in the back of her say, “Gosh it’s a real American Girl.” She turned, and there stood a stalwart sergeant in one of the American regiments. He said to her, “Say it’s been nine whole months since I saw an American girl last can I shake hands with you?” “Certainly,” she replied, but much to her surprise, instead of shaking hands, the sergeant picked her up and kissed her and then set her down on her feet again and told her that when he heard her voice and saw that she really was an American girl, he couldn’t help himself. Miss Van Coevering told of meeting many of the Americans thereafter but said that she had not met any Norwalk boys during the time she had been in France.
Obituary from the Tampa Tribune October 6, 1981
Jeannette Ringrose, 91, of 730 N. Scenic Highway, Lake Wales, died Sunday. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, she moved here one year ago from Sarasota. She was a veteran of World War I, serving as a U.S. Army nurse in Italy and France. She was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Nurses Alumni Association and a life member of the Order of Eastern Star. Survivors include a daughter, Lucy R. Clarke of Newington, Connecticut; three sisters, Ruth Kellogg of Lake Wales, Cora Howard of East Norwalk, Connecticut, and Della Byrns of Loxley, Alabama; and two grandchildren. Johnson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Obituary from The Hartford Courant October 7, 1981
Jeannette (Van Couvering) Ringrose, 91, of Lake Wales, Florida, died Sunday (October 4). She was an Army veteran of World War I, serving as an Army nurse in Italy and France. She graduated from the Connecticut Nurses Training School, now a part of Yale University, in 1913. She was a life member of the Order of the Eastern Star, a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a member of the Nurse’s Alumnus.
Jeanette Van Couvering Ringrose is buried in Wethersfield Village Cemetery, 1 Marsh Street, Wethersfield, Connecticut.
This is the headstone for her husband, Kenneth H. Ringrose. Jeanette Ringrose is likely buried in the same plot, but the inscription was never done. Confirmed with the cemetery that it’s an unmarked burial.
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