Cornelia Bakker

Cornelia (van der Doe) Bakker, 85 of Apex, NC passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 30, 2023 after a short battle with dementia. Cornelia was born on September 17, 1938 in Woerden, the Netherlands to the late Evert and Mijntje (Rademaker) van der Doe. She was the eldest of 5 siblings, mother of 3 daughters and Oma to 7. She enjoyed participating in various groups at church, needlepoint, sewing and knitting. When she wasn’t laughing at her husband’s stories she enjoyed going for walks, enjoying nature and spending time with her family.

In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by brothers Jan and Frans. She is loving remembered by her husband of 63 years Jan Bakker; her daughters, Carolyn van Kampen, wife of Erik; Jacqueline Shepstone, wife of Stephen; Erica Folk, wife of Richard; her grandchildren, Peri van Kampen, Riley Shepstone, Brittany Shepstone, Brennan Shepstone, Kate Shepstone, William Folk, and Nikolas Folk; her brother, Joop van der Doe, husband of Toni; her sister, Leni Bijl, wife of Piet Bijl; and her sister-in-law, Ali van der Doe, widow of Jan van der Doe.

Corrie and Jan started their romance at the age of 17 after they met at church camp, although they lived in different towns very far apart. They continued to date for 5 years, alternating weekends at each other’s family homes, getting there by either bike, train, moped or hitchhiking and eventually married in 1960. Corrie and Jan immigrated to Lexington, Massachusetts December 1961. Corrie and Jan finally settled in Berks County, Pennsylvania to raise their three daughters. Corrie was a dedicated homemaker and the glue that held the household and family together. They would come to eventually own and operate The New Catholic Shop located in West Reading, PA. An active member of St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in West Lawn PA, Corrie was a soprano in their church choir for over 40 years. They relocated to Apex NC to be closer to their daughters. A memorial service will be held at the Kirk Of Kildaire in Cary, NC on November 25, 2023 at 10:00 AM. Her ashes will be scattered privately in the Netherlands.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Transitions Life Care, 200 Hospice Cir, Raleigh NC 27607 or at www.transitionslifecare.org

Fond Memories and expressions of condolences can be added below within “Add a Memory” for the Bakker family.