One Year later ...

The family gathered with Opa (Pop, Dad, Wim) around an evening meal on the first anniversary of his dearly loved Oma’s (Mum, Fonsa) passing away on November 17^th. 


Wim put a special  and loving memorial notice in both the Bay of Plenty Times and the NZ Herald.   Time was taken to remember how she meant so much to each one of us especially the legacy of the treasure of family gathering together around the table.   


A lovely poem was read which Wim felt was “just what I wanted to say”.  A special moment to remember a wonderful and dearly loved lady of our family, still sadly missed.

You never said, “I’m leaving”

You never said, “Goodbye”

You were gone before we knew it,

And only God knew why.

A million times we needed you,

A million times we cried,

If love alone could have saved you,

You never would have died.

In life we loved you dearly,

In death we love you still,

In our hearts you hold a place

No one could ever fill.

It broke our hearts to lose you,

But you did not go alone.

A part of us went with you,

When our God called you home.

Our family chain is broken,

And nothing seems the same;

But as Destiny calls us one by one;

The chain will link again.

Author Unknown

John and Dan in Amsterdam

At Albert Cyup market

Lekker broodje haring

At de Taart of m'n Tante

Remembering Oma

We remember Oma a year after her passing.
While in Amsterdam recently, Sonya took me to a cafe called De taart van m'n tante.
(The tart from my aunty)
It was like a shrine to the decorating tastes of Oma - carpet table cloths, plastic flowers, multi-coloured handmade blankets, tulips, random ornaments - just like Oma's conservatory! And of course we had a slice of the ubiquitous dutch apple tart because Omas would have!

See Dorrie on Wereld Omroep (World Radio Nederland)