AUBURN – Venise Van Tassel, 53, a resident of County Road in Turner, died Tuesday, Aug. 8, at the Androscoggin Hospice House following a two-year illness.

She was born on Nov. 17, 1952, in Rumford, the daughter of Alyre and Claire (Michaud) Richard. She attended Rumford schools.

On Sept. 28, 1974, she married William Van Tassel in Bethel.

She was a devoted wife and mother who enjoyed spending time with her family.

She was a member of the Wayside Bible Baptist Church in Livermore, where she enjoyed teaching Sunday school to the young children and singing in the choir.

She is survived by her husband of Turner; her parents of Rumford; three sons, Patrick Van Tassel and his wife, Christine, of Willow Grove, Pa., Edward Van Tassel of Manchester, and Thomas Van Tassel and his wife, Nicole, of Rumford; a daughter, Lara Van Tassel of Dresher, Pa.; three sisters and their husbands, Pauline and Rusty Hahn of South Portland, Elaine and Jeff Boyd of Rochester, N.H., and Christine and Eric Reed of Exeter, N.H.; three brothers and their wives, Maurice and Diane Richard of Gorham, Raymond and Sue Richard of Bridgton, and Emile and Rita Richard of Gorham; and a granddaughter, Sadie Claire Van Tassel.