Cornelia Leembruggen

Cornelia, also known as Corrie, Oma, and Nana to so many that she loved, was born in Madura, Indonesia, on October 11, 1931 to Hendrick Groothuizen and Marie LaHousse Groothuizen. She spent formative years of her childhood in internment camps in Indonesia during WWII with her mother, six sisters, and several foster brothers and sisters. She moved to the Netherlands after the war, where she worked as a nurse.

She immigrated to Los Angeles in 1962, meeting her future husband, Herman Leembruggen, on the boat on the way to America. They were married on February 23, 1963 and remained married for the rest of her life. They had two children, Oliver and Wendy, with whom they moved to Greenville, SC in 1977.

No matter where she was, she practiced her faith in loving all those around her. She became a vital part of her community by relentlessly serving at her church, her childrens’ schools, the local swim team, neighborhood functions, and many other community functions.

Ever the caregiver, Cornelia cared for dozens of neighbors’ children and children of educators during the academic year so she could have school vacations off with her own children. Her legacy will echo through the lives of others for generations to come. Her home was always open to anyone who needed childcare, craft lessons (knitting and crocheting were her favorite hobbies), a warm meal (her Indonesian egg rolls were nothing short of famous), or just a cup of coffee and a hug.

She is survived by her husband, her son Oliver Leembruggen (Melissa), daughter Wendy Zachary (Marcus), grandchildren Madelyn Leembruggen, Nathaniel Leembruggen, Jameson Leembruggen, Taylor Zachary, and Ryan Zachary, as well as her sister Tina Ronkes and multiple nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

She is predeceased by her parents, her sisters Frieda Crooy (Johan), Paula Croes (George), Mela Brard (Rene), Nonna Palaszewski, Sonja Steenbergen (Herman), and brother in law Ed Ronkes.

The family will hold a memorial service at Woodruff Road Presbyterian Church, 2519 Woodruff Road, Simpsonville, SC on Saturday, June 26th at 2:30pm. Her remains will be interred at Woodlawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, at act.alz.org.