Life story
April 7, 1922
Born in on April 7, 1922 in Nijmegen the Netherlands.
The 11th child born to her parents.
January 1, 1931
August 8, 1931 Trudy immigrates from Holland to live in the Bronx, NY on the Statendam, a ship of the Holland America Line. In those tough economic times as funds became available more family members followed their father to NY. Trudy arrived with her Mother and most of the family was together again.
October 15, 1943
Marinus Theodorus Swart and Truus Gerrits marry in NYC.During World War II, Rien was an officer in the Dutch Merchant Marine sailing freighters for KNSM at the time. He sailed convoys bringing food and goods from the Caribbean to the United States. She worked in an office that handled the insurance for military personnel of many countries who were unable to return to their native lands because of the War.
July 3, 1944
Their son Henk Swart is born.
September 21, 1947
Their daughter Mary is born.
June 23, 1952
Trudy becomes an American citizen.
August 1, 1971
Rein retired as a Captain in the Dutch Merchant Marine and they moved to Lynchburg Virginia.
April 7, 2002
Trudy turned 80 years old. The family had a big party for her in Northport NY and bought her a laptop computer. She learned to use it so she could keep in touch with her extensive friends and family contacts around the world. She said that all you need is enough motivation and you can do anything, even learn the computer at 80.
May 7, 2002
Very proudly received a Certificate of Achievement from the Lifelong Scholars Program of Lynchburg College. Trudy took her first college level class at Lynchburg Community College when she was in her '60's.
March 19, 2009
Trudy passed away peacefully on March 19, 2009 at 8:30am. She had been living at the Guggenheimer Nursing Home in Lynchburg Virginia since 2005. Along with her family she will be missed by the wonderful staff and friends she made during her stay there.
