| Notes |
- Obituary:
It is with much sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the death of Neeltje (Nelly) Omvlee of Bedell Settlement at the Upper River Valley Hospital on Tuesday March 28, 2023 at the age of 80. Neeltje was born in Holland on April 16, 1942, to the late Frank and Wilhelmina (Mien) Habold.
Survived by her husband Roelof, son Roland Omvlee (Cheryl), daughter Wendy Omvlee (Pieter), and her grandchildren, Jonathan Omvlee (Miranda) and Christina Omvlee (John).
Survived by her brothers, Brian Habold (Joyce), George Habold (Ina) and John Habold, her sisters, Wil Bijleveld (Daan), Liesbeth Stapper and Nine Spijker (Leendert) and Marian Vanderweiden, her brothers and sisters-in-law, Henk Omvlee, Gerard Omvlee (Ineke) and Hans Omvlee (Ellie) and Wil Beitsma. And of course also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Besides her parents she was predeceased by her older brother Rinus Habold and her older sister Pea de Groot, her brothers-in-law, Jaap Omvlee, Jan Omvlee, Ben Omvlee, Fred Omvlee, Jan de Groot, Henk Hoogeveen and Henk Stapper, her sisters-in-law, Fini Hoogeveen, Aaltje Omvlee, Sjoukje Omvlee, Boukje Omvlee and Gezien Omvlee, her nieces Christina de Groot, Anthoinette Omvlee and Simone Stapper.
She loved her family and friends immensely. She especially loved the title of Oma to Jonathan and Christina. When Jonathan and Christina were quite young, they would often spend Saturday mornings at Oma's. Nelly would do crafts with them, dance with them and allow them to eat Cheesies and ice cream until they burst, and then return them to Roland and Cheryl's.
Nelly knew everyone and everyone knew Nelly. You could be at Murray's Restaurant, at the grocery store or at just about anywhere in and around the Woodstock area and she would run into people she knew. She was interested in everyone and wanted to know how they were doing and what they were up to.
Before Nel's career in farming began she was a nurse. And with that in the early 1970's she helped the local doctor in de Meije bring several children into the world as a midwife. And then once the local veterinarian got wind of that, she also helped him out with several cesarean sections on cows.
Nelly was raised on a small farm in de Meije, Holland, so she had some idea of what she was getting into when she and Roel started farming in Holland in 1969. They divvied up what they were each responsible for to run a successful farm early on in their business venture. Roel looked after the cows and did the field work and Nel fed the calves, looked after the bookkeeping, raised the kids and made sure dad had his 3 square meals per day. This recipe for success served them very well when they immigrated to Canada in 1977 and remained with some changes occuring when Roland became an integral part of the farm in the late 1980's and most recently the addition of Jonathan to the team at Roelridge Dairyfarm.
She was also happy and proud of the success in the respective careers of Wendy, Pieter, Cheryl, Christina, Miranda and John.
Nelly was quite busy with the farm; however, she did make time to be part of a farm women's organization, the CPB in Holland in the 1970's and later she was a director for the NB Federation of Agriculture and involved with the local (Woodstock area) dairy committee during the 1980' and 1990's. She was a mainstay with PALS at the St. Paul's Presbyterian Church during the 1990's and a member of the Ladies Guild at St. Paul's also. And for many years she helped with coffee time after church at St. Paul's.
If all of that was not yet enough, she hosted hundreds of students over the years at Roelridge Dairyfarm. Schoolbus loads of children would visit the farm where Nel would explain how a dairy farm worked and that milk does not just "appear" at the grocery store. She explained the importance of nutrition, reproduction, animal welfare and loved to show off her calves, and of course the students loved the animals; although many had to get used to "the smell in the barn". Over the years we can only estimate the hundreds, if not thousand(s) of calves she raised.
Speaking of hosting: over the years both Roel and Nel hosted many friends and family at the farm. Some for a few days and some for several weeks. Nel didn't bat an eye. She provided meals, beds and entertainment. As one nephew put it, "I remember tante Nel as a sweet, hospitable, firm aunt. You knew you were welcome at the farm, with the knowledge that the business of farming had to continue, but she was a loving aunt."
Although those of us who know and love Nelly, we will miss her terribly, but we know that she is at peace with the Lord and she is enjoying heaven.
Visitation will be held on Sunday April 2, 2023 at the Carleton Funeral Home, 337 Lockhart Mill Road from 7 to 9 PM. Funeral Service will be held on Monday April 3 at 11am from the Carleton Funeral Home Chapel, Interment in Bedell Cemetery at a later date. If so desired, donations to the St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church or Bedel Cemetery would be appreciated.
Funeral Service will be live streamed at link below, Please register prior to service time, if you incur any issues please call 1-877-895-2739:
https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=7392adea-9b08-4d7a-8435-a19e05e23431
Arrangements are under the direction and care of Carleton Funeral Home.
https://www.carletonfuneralhome.ca/obituaries/Neeltje-Omvlee?obId=27601328
|
People of Carleton County, New Brunswick
1942 - 2023 (80 years)
