Jari VandenBerg

MURRIETA, Calif. -- Jari Annette Simpson VandenBerg, 51, of Murrieta passed away Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013.

She was born Aug. 6, 1961, in St. Louis County. She grew up in Mount Carmel, Ill., and was baptized in the First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Mount Carmel. Jari graduated from Mount Carmel High School in 1978 and the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1982. She married David M. VandenBerg on July 2, 2000, in Temecula, Calif.

Jari had a lifelong love of music, and was a talented vocalist. She was active in numerous music activities and band at Mount Carmel High School and the University of Illinois. In recent years she was active in the Temecula Valley Master Chorale and a music group, the Mellowtones, a part of the Robert Holts Orchestra.

She is survived by her husband, David M. VandenBerg; her children, Bastiaan, Virginia, Nathaniel and Arie of Murrieta; her parents, Thomas W. Simpson and Nelda Underwood Simpson of Cape Girardeau; two sisters, Judith Simpson Divan of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., and Jane Simpson Smith of Smyrna, Tenn.; a niece, Jillian Smith; three nephews, Paul Divan IV, Nicholas Divan and Ben Smith; and numerous other family and friends.

A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Feb. 16 at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 803 Market St., Mount Carmel. The service will be preceded by a visitation from 1 to 2 p.m.

Murrieta Valley Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are suggested to Temecula Valley Master Chorale, P.O. Box 892638, Temecula CA 92589-2638; Mount Carmel High School Music Department, 201 North Pear St., Mount Carmel, IL 62863; or First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Music Department, 803 Market St., Mount Carmel IL.