Audrey Rademaker

Audrey Rademaker died at age 92 on November 26, 2025. Audrey was born to Nicolaas and Anna Doelman in Zwammerdam, The Netherlands on December 14, 1932. She grew up on a farm and loved helping her father milk the cows in the field. In May 1940 that peaceful life turned to tragedy as Germany invaded The Netherlands. By the end of the war, Audrey’s father, Nicolaas, and her brother, Pieter, were executed by the Germans.

Audrey attended the Huishoud School and became an accomplished seamstress. She even sewed dresses made from the parachutes accumulated from the war.

Audrey married Dick Rademaker on July 13, 1960. They had a dream of starting a new life in America and immigrated to Bellflower, California in October of 1960.

Audrey enjoyed sewing, gardening, camping and church participation. She was involved with the Centralia-Chehalis Christian Women’s Club. She was a member of the Olympia Christian Reformed Church since 1980 and taught many Sunday School classes and summertime Vacation Bible School classes. The Children’s Worship was also her passion.

There was an open-door policy at Audrey’s kitchen. If you stopped by about 10AM, you would be assured of a strong cup of coffee and a homemade butter cookie. New Year’s Day was a feast of freshly made olie bollen and bowls of powdered sugar to dip them in. Many other Dutch traditions are now practiced by the grandkids.

Audrey is preceded in death by her husband, Dick Rademaker, her parents Nicolaas and Ann Doelman, and her siblings Jacob, Pieter, Nicolaas, Wim, Jan, Marie, Margaret and Brian.

Audrey is survived by her four children, Ann (Bruce) Alves, Elbert (Tammi) Rademaker, Nelly (Tony) Schaap, and Nick (Kathy) Rademaker; her 9 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. She is survived by 2 of her siblings, Arend (Cootje) Doelman and Case Doelman.

The family would like to thank Assured Hospice for the loving care they provided for our mother.

https://www.chronline.com/stories/julie-mcdonald-dutch-native-learned-resilience-at-a-young-age,392010