Cora Fruneaux, 88

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NATICK – Cora Fruneaux of Natick, died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Sunday January 10, 2021 of acute leukemia.

Cora was born in the Hague, the Netherlands on August 20, 1932 to the late Everdina & Jonathan VandenBrink.

She was the beloved wife of the late Benny Fruneaux.

She was the sister to Meta and her husband Ludwig of Holland, the late Evert and Irene VandenBrink of Florida and Dee Bruyninga and her late husband Lucas of Michigan.

Cora grew up on the island of Java, Indonesia. At the age of 12, WWII broke out and she worked in a sewing factory with her sister Meta and lived in a garage with her mother and 3 siblings.

After the war, they reunited with her father who had been a POW survivor and moved to Holland for 3 years before moving back to New Guinea, Indonesia in 1953.

Cora and her sister Dee sang at a local spot for fun. Cora’s favorite song to sing was Jambalaya on the Bayou by Hank Williams.

She met her husband Benny and they married in 1954. In 1958 they decided to move to the Netherlands where they encountered high unemployment and overcrowding. Then with the help of the Dutch government they seized the opportunity to move to America in 1960 and eventually settled in Natick. 

Cora worked at Raytheon in Wayland for 20 years. She developed many friendships that she cherished for the rest of her life.

She enjoyed baking and was an amazing gardener. When her grandchildren were born she loved knitting them sweaters. Not only were they beautiful but they were works of art. An avid pet lover, Cora had several pets over the years and made many donations to animal shelters. She had a funny sense of humor and a natural beauty with hardly a wrinkle on her face.

She is survived by her 3 children, Marcel Fruneaux and his wife Mary of Natick, Andre Fruneaux and his wife Robin of S. Carolina and Mildred Alves-Scott and her late husbands Anthony Alves and Michael Scott. She was the proud grandmother of Marco and Marissa Fruneaux, Tyler and Troy Fruneaux. Michael and Joseph Alves and Alanna Scott.

Visiting hours in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street in Natick on Monday January 18, 2021 from 4-7 p.m.

A private memorial service will be held for the family at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the name of Cora Fruneaux to the Buddy Dog Humane Society at 151 Boston Post Rd. Sudbury MA 01776