I have a new iPhone. Here is an upload of my trendy double chin look.

The 'too many pies' and too many long lunches look....

Sonya's Words

These are the words Sonya wrote for Oma's service with accompanying photos.

Oma
Going to Tauranga was Oma and Opa. And when I think of Oma I think of her food. Cooking for her family was her way of showing her love.

Cherry pancakes sprinkled with crunchy sugar, with stones that you had to dodge or you might break a tooth. Oma’s famous meatball soup. Dad and Opa bringing fish home and eating hot fried fish late at night, with mayo of course. Sweet, hot custard with fruit that I loved so much, even if it didn’t make it with me over the Kaimais.

Always Oma would insist “stay the night”. And then waking up early, watching the sun come up over the harbour with Oma. Boiled eggs and toast and tea, which just kind of stretched into morning tea and then suddenly it was time for lunch. Always there was a half round wheel of Edam and mandarins. Soft butter in the drawer. Fruit krantenbolletjes (krant-ten-boll-et-ches) (– fruit buns).

And when new cousins were born, out came the blue or pink “musijes” (mouse-ye’s), the aniseed balls on crackers. Little rituals from Holland that I didn’t understand but loved.

And cousins, so many cousins! What a huge family we have. Always running across the road and playing with the “Tauranga cousins” Heidi and Shane and Benji, Johanna Stevie and Antonia. Oma and Opa’s garden was the best playground in the world. I still remember the day we all broke the clothesline. Boy- did I feel bad. I got all the blame cause I was the oldest and should've known better than to hang 8 kids off it.

I remember being amazed at picking fresh strawberries with Oma. And blackberries too- as she got older her garden simplified, but always there was colour and flowers. Real ones as well.

Easter time was always Tauranga time. And that meant an Easter egg hunt with all the cousins. Searching under trees in little grass nests, we’d find chocolate eggs, melting in the sun. Sticky and covered with grass- we’d eat them anyway. And then boiled eggs in one of Oma’s prized eggcups- the choice we had!

And when it was finally time to leave, there was a set ritual. First we had to “make a picture”. All the family present was lined up along the front steps and Oma would bring out her trusty film camera (no digital nonsense for her!). Opa would pick us a bag of plums off Nelly’s tree or a bag of mandarins. As we back out the drive they would wave goodbye from the letterbox until we were out of sight. Every time.

Oma taught me the value of family and how simple rituals become treasured memories. I also inherited her love of a bargain and one day I hope to rival her egg cup collection!

When I was a little girl only I had an Oma, everyone else had Nanas or Grannys. And now I live in Holland and there are Oma’s everywhere. Everywhere I go I am reminded of her. I will miss her so much.

Thinking of you all, especially Opa.
Sonya

 

Cherry pancake

 Easter egg hunt

Alphonsa Nagels Service on 20 Nov 2010

 Entry to the church - Grandchildren.

 

Uploaded by Peter Nagels 23.11.2010

Memorial in Katwijk

 Oma's photo in the Lourdes grotto in Saint Martinus Church, where her and Opa were married.

 Tanté Jo lighting a candle for Oma

 Tanté Jo  and Tanté Mien

The grave of Joseph Willems and Lamberta Bardouel, Oma's parents.

Also buried there is her sister Marie and her husband Herman.

Flowers for Oma

 Tanté Jo with her son Jos and his daughter. 

Sonya with Tanté Mien, her daughter José and her granddaughter Maya.

 Coffee and biscuits at René and Gonny's after the memorial, in the house where Oma was born.

On Saturday there was a memorial for Oma haeld in Katwijk, thoughtfully organised by Trudy and Thijs and Reneé and Gonny. Oma's two sisters Jo and Mien were both able to attend as well as many of the family and close friends.

René said some kind words for Oma at the memorial and Trudy read a beautiful poem in Dutch, which I also read in English. The poem (and an English translation) is below. Everyone expressed their sincerest sympathy for Opa and all the NZ family. Adriaan recorded the day and I'm sure he will make copies available to any who wish to view it.

I'd like to thank everyone who was able to attend for their kind wishes. It was an honour to be there.
xx Sonya


Het is voorbij

Het is voorbij
de dagen zijn gegaan
getijden van de zee
kwartieren van de maan
een boom vol vruchten
en een huis vol zomer
het is gedaan

U keert terug
tot wie U was
een vrouw alleen
ontdaan van bloesem
en van blad
scherper getekend aan de hemel

U hebt de wereld niet gewonnen
de sterren niet bestormd
het werk heeft U ter hand genomen

nu bent U
tot Uzelf gekomen
jaarringen sieren Uw  gelaat
de nevels nemen toe
een grijze winter staat te komen

ik weet het
U gedenkt de stormen

maar.......
gedenk de lente
en de zomer
die te wachten staan


It is over                                              


It is over                                                      
the days are gone                               
tides of the sea
quarters of the moon
a tree full of fruit
a house full of summer
it is done


You go back
to who you were
a woman alone
without blossom
and leaves
signed in the sky


You did not win the world
nor pluck the stars
You did your work


Now you have come
into yourself
lines from years
on your face
misty clouds around you
a grey winter is coming


I know
You remember the storms


but....
don’t forget
spring is waiting
summer is coming

(free translated by Sonya and Trudy)

Alphonsa Nagels - Collections for decoration

These are some of the cherished collections.

Quirky, fun and hard to find.

 

Uploaded by Peter Nagels 21 Nov 2010 peter.nagels at g.mail.com

Old photos

I've been digging up so old photos from the past and thought you might like to see them. If you follow this link you can go to my Flickr account and from there you can download any pics you like. Just right click on the photo and follow the instructions.

I've spoken to some of the family here, and there will be a memorial service for Oma in Katwijk on Saturday at 2.30pm. Toby and I are going to Trudy and Thijs's tomorrow morning and after the service we will got to Renee and Gonny's for some coffee. It is nice to be able to spend some time with family, even though I feel so far away from New Zealand right now.

Lots of love,
Sonya

Nagels Family - 1952 Boarding pass for NZ

This is 1950's style OE -Bigger than the Big OE...!

 

Entry to New Zealand approved.

 

Uploaded by Peter dot nagels @ gmail dot com on 19.11.2010

Fons Earlier Life

Several photos of much earlier times, liberation in WW 2, cycling in Holland, catching the big boat to New Zealand.

 

Uploaded by Peter Nagels 19 November 2010

peter.nagels@gmail.com

Happy memories

Oma and Opa's 60th Wedding anniversary. They made it to 63 years! Amazing.

Sending all my thoughts and love to New Zealand, I wish I could be there.
Sonya

Roses for Oma

These beautiful roses are out of Bill Jnr's garden and were at the hospital with Oma.
The memorial service for Oma is at St Mary's Church, Cameron Road Tauranga at 11 am on Saturday.

Alphonsa Theodora Nagels - Life

Family photos / Very proud Grand parents with grandchildren.

Date late 1980's. Tauranga NZ. 

Alphonsa Nagels November 2010

Alphonsa (Fons) Theodora Nagels (nee Willems) left our world peacefully on 17 November 2010 at Tauranga NZ surrounded by family members.

This is the way she would have liked it to be.

 

Fons was born on Katwjk an der Maas, Netherlands in 1922 into a family of 5 girls.

She lived through tough times, including a depression and the deprivations of WW II.

Notwithstanding that life had its tough moments, Fonsa would always be cheerful.

 

Fons was particularly pleased of her good fortune to meet 'paap', a strong dutch man with curly hair i.e. Wim Nagels, and oten remarked about this, even her her late years.

She would love this guy forever.

After a brief engagement, she married her 'man for life'' in 1947.

She loved her marriage. This was proven by being together for 63 years.

I think she was infatuated with her man, even when into her 80's.

 

But in earlier times in the 1950's and 60's, here was a big family. Life became a series of significant experiences.

Leaving Holland, emigrating to New Zealand in 1953-4 with a young family, the demands of farmnig life in the Waikato - Mamtamata, Te Aroha and Morrinsville.

Together with a growing family, moving farms, frequently setting up new house and getting kids to school.

And always church on Sundays.

 

The big ambition however was always farm ownership.

After many years of ' hard yakka' on sharemilker farms, finally in the early 1960's Wim and Fons bought their farm in Kiwitahi, near Morrinsville.

The farm was continuously improved and a new house and cowshed were built.

 It was demanding work that few were able to do, or cope with.

This farm eventually carried 120 cows.

It must have been profitable because we had a swimming pool.

Finally in 1978, Fons and Wim sold the farm to live in Tauranga. 23 Milton Rd.

 

Fons values were unconditional LOVE of FAMILY, LOVE of all things DUTCH, her husband Wim, home life, socialising and chatting, waking up early to embrace each new day, cycling (feetza), cooking dutch food, forming impressive collections of  offbeat, curious, weird and wonderful things.

 

Fons never learnt about computers. She would never have envisaged herself on the net, nor on Facebook or the like.

Real people interaction was what it was about.

 

Fons only stopped cycling on her early eighties. She reluctantly admitted she has become 'older now' and was 'slowing down'.

 

In most recent years, Fons cheerfully continued with a slower daily life in Tauranga, living beside her 'man for life', meeting family and friends, knittiing, sorting photos, listening to talkback radio, watching dutch TV programmes and being dutch once more, plus enjoying her many collections and curios.

 

The attached photo was taken at our engagement party in 1978.

Fons is on the left, Wim on the extreme right

 

Written by Peter Nagels

18 November 2010.

Hi all,

This morning the doctor recommended family come to be with Oma as her breathing has become very laboured. Myself (Heidi), Jos, Antonia and Pauline arrived a little after 4am. Opa, Sheryl, John and Dianne were already there. Bill and Paul came a little later.

The nurse has made Oma very comfortable with plenty of morphene. Her breathing is fast, shallow and raspy and she has an oxygen mask on. Her temperature is high and her hands swollen. Her body is slowly shutting down and it is hard work for her. The nurse says they cannot know exactly how long there is, it could be anytime or 24 hours. She says Oma is probably aware of people's presence, but obviously unable to respond.

It is very special to have the family with Oma, holding her hand and speaking to her occasionally at this time. The hospital staff are wonderful providing hot drinks and biscuits. The hospital cafeteria is also being sampled with their cheap $5.50 meals. Some people are dozing in their seats after a night with not much sleep

Will keep updated. It is times like these you realise afresh how wonderful it is to have a family like the Nagels, and it is great to have so many of them here.

Here is a lovely photo that Sonya posted on her blog

Oma Update

Hi everyone

Just giving you an update that last night (Monday 15th November) Oma had a stroke. Opa woke up because Oma was nudging him in the ribs, but when he talked to her there was no response. He turned on the lights and she was very motionless, and he thought she might be 'on her way'.

He called the ambulance and pushed the emergency button on the thing they are supposed to wear around their necks. Opa did very well to call the ambulance and some family to help.
Pauline, Jos, Gracie and Bill came over. Pauline rode in the ambulance with Opa to the hospital, the ambulance staff were wonderful, Opa held her hand very tightly in the ride and at the hospital.

Oma has no speech, and no feeling on her left hand side apart from being able to wriggle her toes. She is comfortable in hospital. We are awaiting a medical report and will keep it updated here on the blog.

At midnight Opa, Gracie and Bill wished Pauline a Happy 60th Birthday, which was lovely of them to remember after such an eventful night. Pauline left around 2am and Bill stayed the night with Oma in hospital.

Millers Road

On Saturday we checked out Pauline's garden projects at Millers Road. Broad beans in the raised garden beds are a great success. There are also amazing numbers of Tui in the Kowhai trees. Nice to see a bit of sunshine.

Mary's birthday

Saturday was Mary's 51st birthday. The event was celebrated by the return of Mary's ashes home to Paengaroa. Roger cooked a great kiwi roast for all and Grace organised a birthday cake with chicken decoration. Roger has recently acquired some new chickens.

Tulips and Dutch Festival

The 10,000 tulip bulbs at the Hamilton Gardens are in full bloom and today was the Dutch festival.
Bill and Fonsa came over on the bus with all the Tauranga Dutchies.

 

Bill found the erwtensoep and I found the home made stroopwafels!