Obituaries

PETRONELLA (NELLY) CORNELIA WILHELMINA SPAPENS

With gratitude for a life well lived, we announce the passing of our mom and Oma. Mom was reunited with dad on June 9, 2026, a wonderful gift to dad on his birthday.

Mom lived a long and full life in her 97 years. She watched her grandchildren all grow into adulthood. We feel blessed that Mom had the ability to travel and have a full and active life. Mom had a gift for numbers and anyone who ever played cards with her very quickly realized that somehow, she managed to remember what cards were played which made her a formidable opponent.

Mom leaves behind daughters Sheila (Gerald) and Theresa (Glenn) and grandchildren Garrett (Miranda), Dayton, Landon, Emily (Brady), Tyler (Ethan) and Avery (Hunter) as well as her “Baby” brother, Wil, in the Netherlands.

No words can express our gratitude for the loving care she received from the staff at River East Personal Care Home and the wonderful friends she made there (Lorraine, John, Wayne and Terry). She had a fulfilling and exceptional quality of life there.

As per our mom’s wishes, a celebration of her life will be held with the immediate family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Salvation Army to assist those in need.

As a final message of her love, she left behind this poem addressed to her daughters and their children:

When I am gone, release me – let me go

I have so many things to see and do.

You must not tie yourself to me with tears

Be happy that we had so many years.

 I gave you love, you can only guess,

how much you gave me in happiness.

I thank you for the love each have shown,

but now it is time I travelled alone.

So grieve awhile for me if grieve you must,

then let your grief be comforted by trust

It is only for a while that we must part

so bless those memories within your heart.

I will not be far away, for life goes on.

so if you need me, call and I will come.

Though you cannot see or touch me, I will be near

And if you listen with your heart, you will hear

All of my love around you, soft and clear.

Then when you must come this way alone,

I will greet you with a smile and “Welcome Home”

With all my love Mom and Oma