It is with great sadness that we pass on the news of the sudden passing this past weekend of Kenton Van Pelt, the 15 year old son of Cardus President Michael Van Pelt and Dr. Deani Neven Van Pelt, who also serves as a Cardus Senior Fellow working on our Education file. Kenton’s death came while swimming with family at a cottage on Saturday afternoon.
Cardus’s staple is commentary and research, seeking to apply the insights of 2,000 years of Christian social thought to the public issues of today. Today the Cardus family finds itself focusing on the most foundational of Christian insights applied to the personal lives of those we love dearly, even as together with the apostle Paul we confess our trust in “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (II Corinthians1:3-4).
The arrangements are as follows:
Visitation: Dodsworth & Brown Funeral Home, 378 Wilson St E, Ancaster ON L9G 2C2. Update (Jul 30, 4pm): The new venue for visitation is Ancaster Christian Reformed Church, the same location as the funeral service. Wednesday August 1st, 5:00pm – 9:00pm EDT. (Click here for map.)
Funeral Service: Ancaster Christian Reformed Church, 70 Garner Road East, Ancaster, ON L9G 4X2. Thursday August 2nd, 11:00am EDT. (Click here for map.)
In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund has been created to promote short-term mission trips by students of Hamilton District Christian High School. Donations may be sent c/o First Christian Reformed Church, 181 Charlton Ave W, Hamilton ON L8P 2C9 Update (Aug 10): The scholarship is now being held and administered by Hamilton District Christian High School: 92 Glancaster Road, Ancaster, ON L9G 3K9.
Over the next week, the Cardus team will be supporting the Van Pelt family and preparing them for the long road ahead. As an organization, Cardus also seeks to reflect the characteristics of Christian community that we aspire to commend in our writings and so we pass along this information asking that you keep Michael, Deani and their two daughters, Andrea and Meghan in your prayers during this most difficult time.
On behalf of the Cardus team,
Ray Pennings
Senior Fellow / Director of Research
Cardus