Service:
St. Mary’s Church
Tuesday April 23, 2019
10:00 a.m.
Visitation:
Blenheim Community Funeral Home
Monday April 22, 2019
2:00 – 4:00 & 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Petronella Maria Odulpha (van den Bersselaar) Voets, most affectionately known as “Nellie Voets” passed away peacefully with her family at her bedside on Tuesday, April 16, 2019. Nellie was born to the late Johanna & Martinus van den Bersselaar in the Netherlands 85 years ago. She came from a large family and is survived by her sisters Mariet Habraken and Betsie van Vugt, and by her brothers Piet and Mies van den Bersselaar. She was predeceased by her siblings Oda Geerts, Riek Verberk, Toon and Harrie van den Bersselaar.
Nellie married Harrie Voets on October 6, 1959 and their strong and happy marriage lasted for over 50 years, until he passed away in 2011. They began their family and moved to Canada in 1968 with four young children, including an infant. Nellie will be greatly missed by her five children Johanna Wightman (Rick), Marion Smith (Steve), Ellie Voets-Sterling (Steve), Marco Voets (Heather), and Angeline Humber (Troy). She was predeceased by her daughter-in-law Katherine Voets-Keating in 2005. She was a loving Oma to her grandchildren Jeremy, Tawnya, Gregory, Nastasha, Sean, Terra, Bryce, Zoe, Cassandra, Mikayla, Joey, Wesley, Bailey and Caitlyn, and 12 great-grandchildren. She will also be sadly missed by all of her family in the Netherlands.
Nellie was a kind-hearted soul whose determination in life was admirable. She was a realist who called it like it was. She never saw challenges as a disadvantage but saw adversity as a way of becoming a stronger person. She worked hard, she provided for her family and she cared for Harrie when his health challenged his independence. She gave more than she took in life and brought joy to everyone, including those who helped care for her in recent years. The attention that she was given at the Village on the Ridge in Ridgetown and then at Riverview Gardens in Chatham was beyond inspiring, and for that her family will remain forever grateful.
Nellie’s family invites you to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home where visitation will take place on Monday from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Mary’s Church, Blenheim on Tuesday April 23, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will take place in Evergreen Cemetery.
Friends wishing to remember Nellie with a memorial donation are encouraged to consider Community Living Chatham-Kent or the Oncology Unit at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. Another way to honour her memory is to give your kids an extra hug and tell them you love them.
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Nellie Voets July 2 1933 April 16 2019..
blenheim community funeral home
Décès pour la Ville: Blenheim, Province: Ontario