Jeanne (Elvire) Crettol June 3, 1924 - May 26, 2015 Elvire was born to Jean and Caroline Steyaert in St. Truiden, Belgium in the summer of 1924. She grew up in a loving family with her sister and two brothers. At the outset of WWII, Belguim was invaded and occupied by the German Army. She recounted the hardships of war that her family endured but also shared with us her utter joy when US soldiers entered her town and helped end the war. One of those soldiers was our father, Arthur Crettol. They fell in love, got married and had their first child (Marie) before returning to the United States. Arthur returned to farming in Wasco after the war. Elvire arrived in the United States through Ellis Island with Marie and traveled by train to join the Crettol Family of Victor and Marie (Art's father and mother) and Leo and Mary Louise (his brother and sister). Life was good in California though a little hotter than Belgium. Elvire settled into housekeeping in Wasco and eventually raised seven children in all: Marie Crettol Larkin, Jeanne Crettol Hylton, James Crettol, Louis Crettol, Shirley Crettol Linscott, Carolyn Crettol Stecki and Claudette Crettol. As a war bride, she was so very proud of studying for and passing the test to become a naturalized citizen of the United States in the early Sixties. Elvire and Arthur divorced in 1972 but remained good friends and saw each other frequently. Elvire was with Arthur when he passed away in 2012. Elvire never remarried but spent much of her time with her children, twelve grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. She cherished them all very much. Elvire attended many social events in town but her most memorable moments were her time spent with the knitting club "The Happy Hookers". Elvire loved animals and rescued many stray cats, dogs and even rehabilitated injured birds. After moving to Glenwood Gardens in her later years, she enjoyed frequent visits from her family for Saturday Quarter Bingo. She was also an avid balloon volleyball participant, and loved to aggressively spike the balloon. Our family extends a special thank you to all who cared for our mother in her later years: Glenwood Gardens, Pacifica Senior Living, Around The Clock Home Care and Optimal Hospice. Elvire is survived by all of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Marcel Steyaert and his wife Angele and their two children Carine and Marc. She is predeceased in death by her brother Rene (who was a prisoner of war in a concentration camp in Germany during WWII) and her sister Judith. Msgr. Craig Harrison will officiate a family graveside service at Wasco Memorial Park at 11:00am on Friday, May 29, 2015. Msgr. Harrison will also celebrate the Mass of Christian Burial at 1:30pm on June 3, 2015 (her 91st birthday) at St. Francis Church, 900 H Street, Bakersfield, CA 93304. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bakersfield SPCA in her memory at 3000 Gibson St., Bakersfield, CA 93308