Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Constance Ann Van Yserloo |
| Known as | Connie Van Yserloo |
| Birth | September 11, 1934 in Saranac Lake, New York |
| Death | November 17, 2024 in Sherman Oaks, California |
| Heritage | American with Dutch roots |
| Parents | John Van Yserloo and Catherine Blanchard |
| Siblings | Ronald Van Yserloo |
| Marriages | William S. Wong, later William Matteson |
| Children | Victoria Ann Wong, Stephen Wong, Declan Wong, Gregory Wong, Russell Wong, Michael Wong, Bradley Wong, Mary Elizabeth Wong |
| Occupations | Artist, singer and performer, Transcendental Meditation teacher |
| Notable performances | Mayflower Club, Gardenia Supper Club |
| Education | Santa Monica College, soprano competition winner |
| Residences | New York State, California, Yosemite National Park period |
Early Life and Heritage
In 1934, Saranac Lake’s Connie Van Yserloo was born on a cool September day. Her Dutch surname suggested old world roots while her American upbringing valued labor, talent, and community. Connie and her brother Ronald were raised by realistic and encouraging parents John Van Yserloo and Catherine Blanchard. Music and art were early instruments for understanding the world, not decorations. She lived for nine decades with that creative desire.
Love, Marriage, and a Growing Family
Connie married William S. Wong and started a huge family in midcentury America. The home has diverse yet complimentary cultures. While children lined up, Albany’s seasons and rhythm provided the backdrop. In 1980, Connie remarried William Matteson. The pair visited Yosemite National Park, whose cliffs and waterfalls are calm. An artist and singer sensitive to nuance found refuge in such setting.
Her family story held both joy and heartbreak. Her daughter Mary Elizabeth passed in infancy in 1967. Her son Bradley died in 2009. Through these losses, Connie remained a steady presence for her surviving children and grandchildren, weaving everyone into a single, resilient fabric.
Art, Music, and the Stage
Connie created in two interconnected universes. She studied and sang soprano, commanding the stage. She placed first in a Santa Monica College singing competition, boosting her confidence. She performed at more intimate venues like the Mayflower Club and Gardenia Supper Club. These areas are for storytelling and sensitivity, which Connie did well.
Her visual art was equally personal, ranging from paintings to handcrafted pieces such as decoupage. The products bearing her signature indicate a maker who enjoyed color, form, and the process of transforming everyday materials into treasures. Connie approached art as a conversation with time, whether through the arc of a melody or the careful layering of paper and lacquer.
A Teacher of Transcendental Meditation
Besides the gallery and theater, Connie taught Transcendental Meditation. TM is a daily practice that helps you focus. Teaching it takes grace and patience. Her relatives and friends remember her as a gentle teacher who avoided bombastic declarations. Her life reflected her teaching. Her daily practice included performance discipline and meditation.
Extended Family Portrait
Connie’s family is both large and accomplished. Two of her sons, Russell and Michael, became well known actors, carrying the family name into film and television. Others pursued lives out of the spotlight, equally vital to her story.
| Name | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| William S. Wong | First husband | Father of her children |
| William Matteson | Husband since 1980 | Shared a Yosemite period |
| Victoria Ann Wong | Daughter | Surviving |
| Stephen Wong | Son | Surviving |
| Declan Wong | Son | Surviving |
| Gregory Wong | Son | Surviving |
| Russell Wong | Son | Actor with a long film and TV career |
| Michael Wong | Son | Actor with a notable career in Hong Kong cinema |
| Bradley Wong | Son | Deceased in 2009 |
| Mary Elizabeth Wong | Daughter | Deceased in 1967 |
Her grandchildren are another vibrant group. Eja Robinson, Kayla, Irisa Shannon, and Kadin Miles Wong are examples. The list also includes Cara Goman, Gwen Miale Castro, Nicholas Wong, Kiley Wong, Kiriana Wong, Anataia Wong, Emerald Wong, Michaela Wong, and Lily Wong. The names symbolize diverse threads that carry Connie’s creative and familial legacy into new generations.
Timeline of Key Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1934 09 11 | Born in Saranac Lake, New York |
| 1950s | Early artistic development and training in music |
| 1960s | Marriage to William S. Wong and family life in New York State |
| 1963 | Birth of son Russell |
| 1967 | Passing of infant daughter Mary Elizabeth |
| 1970s | Continued performances and art making; move to California era |
| 1980 | Married William Matteson, lived in Yosemite National Park period |
| 1990s | Sons Russell and Michael achieve widespread recognition in acting |
| 2009 | Passing of son Bradley |
| 2010s | Ongoing community arts involvement and TM teaching |
| 2024 11 17 | Passed away at home in Sherman Oaks, California at age 90 |
Influence Across Two Worlds
Connie’s life followed two main lines. One line extended into public settings, where she sang, performed, and displayed. The other arced inward, where she found her core via meditation, practice, and family. Her art was intimate rather than grandiose. She preferred venues where the audience could hear the breath between sentences and where a high note might float like a lamp in the dusk.
Creative energy in the family was not accidental. Kids learn via watching. They observed their mother practice, correct, and improve. Their lesson: talent important, but persistence matters more. Russell and Michael brought a humble inheritance from home into the professional spotlight. Crafting daily requires discipline, curiosity, and conviction.
Community, Craft, and Quiet Achievements
Connie excelled in community halls, supper clubs, hand-painted surfaces, painstakingly recorded scores, and patient meditation instruction. Her creativity also migrated through gifts like plates and framed paintings that became family heirlooms. These are minor headline and flashing bulb victories. Their depth reflects a rich life.
She maintained no public financial profile and left no publicly stated net worth. Instead, her ledger is songs, lessons, and upliftment of her audience and kitchen table. Her legacy is the lives and confidence she built.
FAQ
Who was Connie Van Yserloo?
She was an American artist, soprano, and meditation teacher born in 1934 who raised a large family and remained active in creative and community life into her 80s and 90s.
When and where was she born?
She was born on September 11, 1934 in Saranac Lake, New York.
When did she pass away?
She died on November 17, 2024 in Sherman Oaks, California at age 90.
What was her artistic focus?
She performed as a soprano in intimate venues and created visual art, including paintings and handcrafted pieces.
Where did she perform?
She took the stage at Los Angeles area venues such as the Mayflower Club and the Gardenia Supper Club.
Did she teach Transcendental Meditation?
Yes. She taught TM for many years and was known for a calm, supportive teaching style.
Who are her well known children?
Her sons Russell Wong and Michael Wong are actors with long running careers in film and television.
Who were her spouses?
She married William S. Wong and later, in 1980, married William Matteson.
What is known about her heritage?
She was American with Dutch roots, reflected in her family name and early life story.
How is her legacy carried forward?
Through her children and grandchildren, her artworks, and the many people she inspired through music and meditation.
