This Post is truly personal in nature. My Mother passed away 4 years ago last month. I can’t believe it has been that long. This is my eulogy of my mother. For you who knew her you will probably laugh and cry and have a smile at the end of it ~ I hope.
Remembrances of Mom
A friend brought me a condolence this week, "May Her Memory Be Eternal". This is true, we know that Mom will live in our hearts forever.
My Mom was an Organizer; I always saw her making plans for the Family. Mom always made sure everyone knew what was going on in within the family. She Planned the Dykstra picnic every year and made sure that invites went out. She encouraged everyone to get together. She organized the finances for the family trips to Holland. She organized for the Devries' as well, helping with get togethers, ensuring that most of us were able to make it to the parties. One of my aunts said yesterday that "if we needed to know something, we just had to ask Thelma".
My Mom was a Peacemaker. She tried to settle the Differences between her brothers when they were challenging each other over who got more meatballs. She worked to stay in touch with everyone even when some wouldn't talk to others. She even worked to calm my father and I down when we were getting fired up about one thing or another. There was also the time that Rick and I were fighting in the front hall. Mom got so upset that she came at us with a flying karate kick; she missed, but the look on her face... Rick and I fell apart laughing so hard that we forgot about our fight. Mom, how did you do it? Was there something in those droppies that were always around?
My Mom was a people person. Everyone she met she loved ~ as part of her family. That can be seen by everyone that came yesterday arid is here today. My Brother, Father and I thank you for coming to celebrate Mom's life. My Old Baby sitter CC, sent a letter of condolence; I would like to read it now, it speaks of how Mom loved everyone she met.
Peter, Peter Alien, Penny and Ricky ...
I don't even know where to begin to express my condolences to all of you ... I was so saddened to hear the news of Thelma's Passing.
When I was 12 years old Thelma trusted me with her most precious possessions ... babysitting her boys.Every day after school I would drop by the house ... Thelma would either be baking, babysitting, reading, crocheting/knitting with her Mom or just simply being a Mom. I remember homemade donuts, popped popcorn, oranjekoek and other goodies form the Dutch Toko.
She would let me stay until my own Mom came home from work and then allow me to come back and read the boys a bedtime story.
She always made me feel like a part of the family and I carried that feeling with me when I became a Mom. I wanted to be home for my kids when they got home from school and for the other kids in he neighbourhood just like she did for me.
She was Generous with her extended family too ... I don't think there was a family member I hadn't met.
I remember the last time I saw Thelma ... the kids and I stopped by the house unannounced ... she and Peter dropped everything to visit with us. She brought us up to speed on the boys ... who have grown into fine young men ... the extended family and of course there were wedding pictures.
We are hosting a Jump Rope for Heart clinic at our school sponsored by the American Heart Association on February 24th ... I will be proudly participating in the memory of Thelma and my Dad.
Love CC, Tom, Nolan and Tesha
My Mom always wanted a daughter, don't get me wrong she loved her boys but she wanted a Daughter, CC and Janie were her surrogate daughters for a while and so were All of her Nieces. When Kobus and Judith Landman came to Canada in the early Nineties they started to worship at Church with my Parents. Mom Took Judith in as a daughter. She was ecstatic when Susan was born in 1993 in Guelph and mom was able to play "Oma" even if it was only for a few days. When they came back to Canada a few years ago my mom became Aunt Thelma.
Mom and Judith's mother had a talk one day this past summer. She told Mom that she had a Love / Hate relationship with Mom. Although she hated that Mom was with Judith and her Family here in Canada and she wasn't, she also loved Mom for being here for Judith and her family when she couldn't.
When I was dating Penny, one of the reasons that I knew Penny was going to fit with this family is because Penny was able to tire Mom out when they were shopping. To be able to do that meant that she belonged with this family. Mom really enjoyed being with Penny and truly enjoyed having a daughter in-law ...
Penny remembers when we first started to date. - I told her a little story of how I caught Mom downstairs singing along to a song that, she had changed the words to "Peter has a girlfriend". She was so excited for the two of us.
Penny asked me to bring you her thoughts and memories of Mom;
Mom was my second mother. She was the mother in law that most girls dream of. She was always fun to be with and I could share anything with her, just like I can with my own mom. I always enjoyed the long shopping outings with her, but I'll never understand why we had to visit three different Zack's stores in one day ....
I couldn't have been blessed with a more wonderful, caring and giving mother in law. I'll cherish the many wonderful memories I have of her and tell her grandchild how much she loved to play cards, how she loved to laugh, and about her strong faith.
I also remember her favourite saying, Keep Thelma's kitchen clean, eat out.
My Mom was really excited about becoming a Beppe. Although she didn't like the Idea of being called Beppe because a Beppe was old and she was only 39, with some experience ... Mom was so looking forward to her first grandchild. On Sunday night, at dinner Mom spent most of the night holding onto Steve and Allison's little boy. It was like she knew that she wouldn't be able to see her own grandchild.
I have only one question, Why Lord, did you take Mom just weeks
before her first grandchild is to be born?
Recently Mom had started an intensive bible study with some of her friends and she had to keep a journal and spend at least 1/2 an hour studying every day. Well last week Thursday she had gotten up extra early and Dad asked why ... Mom said that she had to get some extra studies in because she was going to miss them with Aunt Pat coming for a choir concert. That was my mom, she was very dedicated and when she loved something she put her whole heart into it, whether it was this bible study, working for Eastwood Printing, Her family, or shopping for white blouses ...
As part of that study she kept a journal. A couple of things jumped out at me; first was that Mom strongly believed that Fellowship with other believers brought us closer to God. Mom loved being with other people, especially people that could strengthen her faith.
The second was that she was very sorry for hurting her friends when she left the Reformed church. She felt that it also hurt her relationship with God.
Mom always made us say goodbye no matter where we were going. Mom always wanted to make sure that we said goodbye in case something happened. Well Mom, although we have said goodbye here on earth, it's only really a "See you later". We will see you again, as the old hymn says, "When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be ... " Mom has started that rejoicing already ...
Mom would want this to be a celebration, a celebration of her life. Mom always told me that for a Christian the ending of this life meant the beginning of eternal life, a life without pain, a life without worry, a life without sorrow and a life without Cold .... It is being in the total Presence of the Almighty God.
God is our comfort, this is our hope, this is our confident assurance;
We know Mom is safe in His arms.
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in Loving memory of Thelma “Tetje” Devries. August 16, 1945 – February 13, 2006.
“Surrounded by His Glory”
