Theodora Koning De Groot

To Theodora De Groot, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Theodora, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Theodora really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Her parents were John and Cornelia Koning. Even as a child, Theodora had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.

Always a good playmate, Theodora was easygoing and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Theodora managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Theodora was raised with three siblings. She had one older sister, Dora and two younger sisters, Cora and Mary.

All of Theodora's playful good humor carried over into her childhood. She was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed her to be constantly on the go. As a result, Theodora experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well. She took part in bike riding. She was a member of the theater club.

Ask anyone who knew her from school and they would tell you that Theodora was a class “cut-up.” She didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Theodora simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Theodora, grades may not have been the most important thing to her, but she really did enjoy her school experience. Since experience was Theodora's best teacher. She enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory. Her favorite class in high school was homemaking.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Theodora very easy to approach. On July 12, 1944 Theodora exchanged wedding vows with Jacob De Groot at the City Hall of Sheidam Holland. She tried hard not to impose on her spouse. She was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason Theodora related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Theodora was blessed with four children, four daughters, Theodora, Johanna, Geraldine and Connie. They were also blessed with sixteen grandchildren, Loren, Tina, Sheila, Brandi, Ireine, Ginny, Michelle, Elissa, Michael, Billy, Melissa, Christopher, Joshua, Jenny, Tyler and Lindsay. Theodora had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Theodora's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Theodora had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Theodora was a real “people person. ” she had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Theodora liked to see herself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Theodora was an adaptable realist, using her common sense and trusting her experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Theodora's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around her to see Theodora as an excellent problem solver. Her primary occupation was a homemaker for 65 years.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Theodora recognized that her faith was important to her throughout her life. She was a member of the Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church in Beaumont, California.

Living life in the fast lane suited Theodora just fine. It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. She was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included touring Holland.

Theodora was a lover of animals and cherished her pets, enjoying them almost as much as she enjoyed being around other people. Theodora's favorites were her Yorkshire Terriers, Rosie and Pepsi. She was best friends with Pepsi for 16 years and Rosie for 8 years.

Theodora passed away on February 24, 2010 at her home in Banning, California. Theodora died of natural causes. She is survived by her daughters, grandchildren, great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. A Funeral Mass was held on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 1:00 PM at Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church 1234 Palm Avenue, Beaumont, CA 92223. A viewing was held on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a Rosary at 7:00 PM at Weaver Mortuary Chapel 1177 Beaumont Avenue, Beaumont, CA 92223. Theodora was laid to rest in Mt. View Cemetery 1315 Edgar Avenue, Beaumont, CA 92223.

Theodora brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Theodora De Groot lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.Arrangements under the direction of Weaver Mortuary, Beaumont, CA.