Hi Harmina, I'm sorry I missed you. I tried for many years to get back to you, but life was in the way. I missed the year we were together. You took care of me like my own mother. Like my own mother. You really cared deeply for me and I for you. Now, when I can come, you are not there. I miss you horribly. Thank you for all the birthday cards throughout these ten years. I didn't know you were ill. You were never complained. I remember all the meatballs, the "old country" food, the stories about your Holland, your kids and husband. I miss the times going to church together. I am thankful that God put us together and being able to help you around the house. It was a pleasure. We made a good team. I miss you, but I'll be with you soon enough. 
Say hi to my mom when you see her. She is up there somewhere. Love - Dale  

I miss you Oma and think of you often!!! I remember years ago as a small child when you gave me the children's devotional as a gift and sitting next to you as you read it. I wanted to run around and play but I could sense how much it meant to you, so I sat and listened. Thank you for sharing your faith with me! You were a shining star full of hope and grace. I will miss our summer trips down to visit you, making fresh squeezed orange juice, tea in fancy cups with cookies or chocolates, chocolate hagel slaa on toast for breakfast, late nights playing shuffleboard and "veenci", fellowshipping around the table after a meal, and just the warmth of being in the house you made a home with everything in its place, and the sound of your voice. I'm so glad my kids got to make memories with you. Now you can sing It Is Well With My Soul in heaven. Love you, my beautiful Oma!

Theres alot of things im going to miss about my Oma! I admired her strong faith and strong love for her family.  She loved each and every one of us equally and immensely. Some of my favorite memories were: going to Oma and Pakes house during summer vacation and getting to see my cousins and other family, us cousins chasing eachother around the windmill or just coming up with a game in the front lawn, 4th of July was always a "blast", shuffle board, rummy, 10,000 and all the other games we would play while sipping tea and eating dutch cookies, trips to the dutch store, dutch breakfasts....but most of all im going to miss the holidays at Omas. She was the staple of our family and kept us close. Family was very important to her. Thanksgiving and Christmas will never be the same for us all.  I am going to miss everything about that house, even the old wall paper! It had so much character and so many memories. I will cherish these special memories forever!! Love and miss you so much Oma xoxo

Miss you Oma!! You will forever be a part of who I am!

Tante Minie was a beautiful person both inside and out. I will always remember her warm hospitality for everyone and her genuine and unconditional love for all people. She was a blessing to so many people! I really enjoyed visiting her twice at 'Hotel California'and have also great memories of skyping with her. I am thankful that I get to know her, my grandpa's eldest sister, better in the last couple of years. She was a one of a kind person with a heart of gold! She meant a lot to me, loved her! Although its over a year since her passing, I still wish you all the strength and comfort to carry this big loss. Love, Joëlle

My deepest condolences to the family - Harmina was a sweet friend who will be greatly missed.  What a treasure she was and what a blessing it is to call her a sister in Christ.  We shall see you one day in Glory!
Love,
Joyce Ogden

My mama, oh how much I miss her!  
I am so grateful that my family continued our visits over the years. New Years Eve, birthdays, 4th of July, Thanksgivings, and Christmas Eves were all spent with her and my dad!  Dad passed away in 1999 but we kept our holidays going with mom with visits inbetween as well.  What a huge change it will be for our family! The holidays at mom's place was our families tradition, now we have to make new ones. Mom always loved company, especially the little ones, I'm grateful the grandkids as well as the great grandkids got to spend so much time with her.  Going to miss our skyping, her singing her songs over Skype to the Lil ones,  The phone calls, her voice and so much more!  Mom, thank you for all the time we spent together, laughing, happy times, sad times, angry times, stress times but most important and above all the love that never failed. Heaven gained an amazing angel on June 7th at 10:40 as we all sat around your bed with broken hearts!

Dear family, my condolances for the loss of your mom and oma... Tante Minie is with her siblings who are already with the Lord, I'm guessing they are all laughing their lovely loud Stelpstra-laugh :-) . I wish you strength and love. Xx

I remember aunt Minie as a warm and joyful person who enjoys life. From the early days (when she was in Holland and told my parents several times to finally come over to California one time, which they eventually did:) ) when it always was 'gezellig' the times she visited us, getting very late in the evening (or early in the morning actually). Till recently when in 2014 my mother Janty and I visited her, when it turned out that her warmth and well-known hospitality had not a single bit faded away (I could take as much beer as the refrigerator would hold, or for that matter, 7up-mixed whisky, I used her (always-on-waiting-for-a skype-call) computer, etc.), feeling very welcome, showing a lot of interest in us (and being happy sisters), telling us her life-stories. Later on, back home, we skyped a few times. So, she was loved by many people. Good feelings remain. Life is short, thanks for having a part. Alfred

I remember tante Miny as a joyful, optimistic and 'skyping' aunt. In the early days, when she was in Holland and telling my parents to put the 'worries to fly' aside and finally visit California (which they eventually did), I already remembered her as an optimistic, warm person who enjoys life. Her visits always were very 'gezellig'. In 2014, when my mother Janty and I visited her it felt just the same way. The hospitality she showed (I could take as much beer as the refrigerator would hold, or for that matter 7up-mixed whisky, she let me use her computer, etc.) was great, just as her warmth and openess, interest in us and her telling of stories about her life to us. Later on, back home, we skyped a few times. So, she was loved by many people. Life is short, thanks for having a part. Alfred

I have only happy memories of dear Harmina. She was such a sweet friend to me and my family. She was always so generous, welcoming us into her home with sweet treats, amazing coffee, and wonderful conversation. One of my fondest memories of Harmina is when she would sing the "clap your hands" song in Dutch to my babies- they loved it! Harmina would always ask why I wanted to spend time with her- since we are 60 years apart in age. This always struck me as funny- of course I loved spending time with her! The stories she would share, the wisdom she offered, her sense of humor, her faith in Christ... she was such a blessing in my life, and I will always treasure the time we shared together.

I remember years ago when Ed was alive, my husband  Stuart and I used to go over to Vander Woude's after church Sunday evening for coffee and fellowship.  We heard stories about their arrival and life in America.  They were both very hospitable  and kind.  The memories of their friendship will remain.
    Genie Ogilvie  (Huntington Beach, CA)

And Jesus said, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. (John 10:27-29) 
Our tears are many as we grieve the loss of a precious person in our lives, Oma Nina, or, as my kids affectionately call her, Mrs. VW. Harmina IS one of Christ's sheep, trusting in the salvation given to her through Jesus on the cross. So, though we grieve, we are comforted by the hope of the gospel. This dear friend will be remembered by many and particularly for: 
Her love for having people come visit (she had an open-door policy - no need to call ahead. She was always ready for visitors because people were always more important than things she needed to do)
Her gift of hospitality (a visit always meant cookies and several cups, using the fancy cup & saucers, of her yummy, strong coffee that she made even more tasty with evaporated milk and lots of sugar! When I came with the kids when they were little, she always made them tea using the fancy cups (though I was concerned about them breaking, she had no concern of it!)
Her love for babies & kids (she was the oldest of 13 kids and had 10 of her own, so her face would always light up if there was a baby in the room!
Though she often mentioned that she didn't have much education and wasn't smart, she had so much wisdom and a perspective that I always learned from.
She wasn't a complainer - even when things were not easy (like at the end of her life with the cancer taking over her body), she took things in stride and always said, A lot of people have it worse. I can't complain.
Her love and concern for me and for my family and others.
Her commitment to be in God's word and prayer every day, praying daily for each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and others.
Her realness, encouragement, non-judgemental spirit, friendship... Oh, how we will miss her but are so thankful she is free of the suffering of this life and is in the presence of her Lord forever more! We love you, Harmina!

Your life was a gift
Your life was a blessing
Your life caused smiles 
Your life is never ending 
Because your God is everlasting

❤

Harmina was such a beautiful woman both inside and out! You could not help but smile when she was present.  She had such love for EVERYONE. What a dear friend. She was such a godly example to us all. What  a precious gift to us and to God!  Love you!

Harmina you will be missed dearly. You were like family to me while growing up and will always remember the big bright smile and big warm hugs. May the Lord bless you and keep you in his loving arms always...

I am glad that I was with my sister in March this year . Together we had a great time and we have had very nice conversations. The relationship of the elder sister and younger brother of our family was very special and we were very close.
I am grateful that she may have a long life and that she may now be forever with God.

Our mom is loved by us and many more. She has seen a lot in her long life. She has also touched many lives besides just her immediate family. Her love was not shallow She loved us all. Her stories. Her stories when she was growing up told to many. We will all have our fond memories of her and how she touched each and all of us. We can all say that what we all put her through at times in our lives she was always there. Se loved us all equally .I will never forget the turtle soup story. Mom was always there and she will never be forgotten and always in our hearts and thoughts. We love you mom

My Oma will always be the benchmark of virtue and values in my life. She will be missed by many, but she was so special that she will live on through many of us. Harmina Vander Woude showed us all how to live and love. She showed us all the spiritual life we should live in a strong and subtle way. Some of the best memories of my life as a child were spent with my Oma and Pake, whether it was a holiday and everyone was there... or if I rode my bike over and spent a day or 2 with them eating my Oma's food and helping my Pake with some chores. There was a lot of times i would spend a week or more at a time during the summers. There was always games to be played and a good time to be had. It was always one of my favorite places to be. I know it to be factual, that a lot of people loved to be there for the same reasons as me. We were all lucky to have had you with us for so many years. Love you always Oma!  I know that even if you aren't by my side, you will always be in my heart.

My heart goes out to this Family! Mom means so much to each and everyone of us. I will truly miss her. She is the one who kept me accountable to stay on the right path. She made me a part of the Family right from the beginning by telling me to call her Mom. I hope you we all join me in celebrating Mom by sharing your thoughts and memories of her.

OBITUARY

Harmina Vander Woude

11 February, 1927 – 7 June, 2016

Westminster Memorial Park & Mortuary

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