Truus Swart - Site Memorial Online

I met Trudy while I was attending Lynchburg College (2000-2003). I remember her always being on campus or in the library, where a friend of mine worked. In one my journalism classes they asked us to profile someone and if they liked it they would print it in the college paper, The Critograph. I chose Trudy and it was such an honor and pleasure to get to know more about her. She didn't hesitate to meet with me multiple times and talk about her life and share her photos and memories. To give you an idea of the impact her outgoing personality makes on people, I had gone to my parent's house recently to find the article I had written and told my mom why I was looking for it. Once she saw the photo of Trudy in The Critograph, she said "oh I remember her. I met her on campus one time when I was visiting you. She was so friendly and nice." I called my friend from the library after I heard from Mary, and even he had a story to share about knowing Trudy. I think it's amazing how she could connect with so many people and how so many people remember her fondly.

Hello Mary,
Well, I know that you will miss her laughs and presence, you indeed have our sympathy.  She was like a mother to me when I was young. Tante Tootie would help me communicate with my mother through my teenage years.  She always took us to the nicest places, sometimes a beach, museum, Statue of Liberty, Radio City,  and many more.  The many photos and memories will live on forever.  Every Christmas was celebrated with Oom Rein and Henk and Mary  and my sister, Marina and her other sister Dini and her husband Herman.
 
Her family in heaven will have the biggest party for her arrival.  I know my mother, her sister, will love seeing her again.  She was the youngest and last of a huge family that immigrated from the Netherlands in 1931.  She returned to her homeland on many voyages with Oom Rein, Henk and Mary.  Tante Tootie helped me out with the genealogy of her side of the family.  This in turn helped me to get the rest of the information needed from Nijmegen, the Netherlands.  They'll always be a special spot in my heart for your mother and I hope to see her again in Heaven.
 
We just love this tribute to our Tante Tootie,
Sylvia and Bob Loehr

I will never forget the time Oma and I went to a swish restaurant and they brought out this tiny little dish of something, (who knows what it was) and placed it before us on the table before we ordered. Oma and I looked at the plate and started giggling, asking each other "Do we use our fingers or our forks?" As we both reached out with our fingers we noticed people at another table using their cutlery. We both giggled even more as we popped those whatever-they-weres into our mouths and told ourselves that our way was the right way.

Mom, Thanks for showing us all how to live life with gusto. Thanks for showing us by example how to enjoy friends and family, travel, parties, socializing and caring about others. Thanks for sharing with me your wishes so that I was able to know how you wanted to live your life right through to the end. You made it easy for me to know what was right for you when I had to make some difficult decisions. And as I said to Dad, thanks for giving me life! Love and Snuggles, xxoomary

What a beautiful tribute for a very special woman!!! 

I will always remember our first meeting.....that is when Trudy mentioned she was a graduate of the EST training. Well, after a brief chit chat I was smitten!!!!   I

t was my absolute pleasure knowing her, thank you for sharing Trudy with me... I will always smile when I think of her!                   Hugs and kisses,  Vicki

Dear Mary and Dave,
My condolences go to you and your children. You have memories that could fill a library as Trudy was all life and love, that's for sure.

I know you've heard this story of the Popeye trip....just wanted to tell it again. Your Mom and I, surprisingly, had a lot in common and we spent much time talking or visiting. The trip to the Popeye Museum in Chester, Illinois was certainly the most memorable. I made Olive Oyl dresses for each of us and we became as children, swept up in the delights and excitement of a little town celebrating a childhood hero, Popeye. Driving to this little town, Chester, which is resting on the east bank of the Mississippi River, we stayed a night in Shelbeyville, Kentucky, where I had made reservations.

Our Days Inn was surrounded by nothing. As far as the eye could see...there was nothing! It was 10 PM and we were very hungry. I, jokingly, asked the motel manager if there was a five-star restaurant in the area. He said there's a nice place up the road, at the T intersection turn left and go two miles. We found the most delightful place and that late at night it was still bustling with patrons. We discovered it is a restaurant owned by the famous Kentucky Colonel's wife. History says that SHE was the cook in the family and the Colonel became rich and famous using his wife's recipes. At any rate, Trudy and I chowed down, much too much food, yes, and dessert, too.

When we returned to our motel we were in agony. There was no way we could have gone to bed and been able to sleep! So, we walked laps around the motel...the only thing we could think of to help our bulging, glutonous stomachs. When we began to feel as though we could actually get in bed it was about 2 AM. and we did a lot of laughing, which, also, was a good digestive aid!

Sincere condolences to you, Mary and Dave, Lucy Williams Lynchburg, Virginia

Oma was a very special lady and I'm glad that she was a part of my life.  I'm also so glad C.J. was able to spend precious time with his great-grandmother.  She would do anything and everything we wanted to do during her visits--(going to the mall to visit Santa, visiting the Children's Museum and playing on ALL the exhibits, going to McDonalds for a shake with C.J., taking a trip to Adventureland to ride the rides with C.J.)  She was a free spirit and full of life.  She always made the holidays extra special when she came up to visit.  I have missed her so much the past few years and cherish the last Christmas we were all together.  I do know that now she is at peace and will always be with us through precious memories of the special times we were together.  Love Always,  Sherri

I have known Toets since my arrival in the USA in 1957 and when I when I lost my wife at a very young age, she was the rock on which I and my kids could lean for support. Tante Toets was very important in the lives of my children, you took care of them when they were young, became godmother to one of them and was always there when needed. She was a mentor for Laddie and taught her some Dutch cooking skills. We had great visite with you after we moved to Florida.

Your life has been an inspiration for many and I consider myself fortunate that I had the privilege of having known you.

After his parents passed away I visited with my late husband Ben Langereis his family in the U.S. in summer 1976. I did not know them at all, but right away I felt comfortable with them. Ben loved his aunt Truus very, very much. He told me that ,when they were in Holland, he kept talking with tante Truus for hours and hours having their drinks. The fact that we always kept in touch (with the Dutch!) speeks for itself. Tante Truus was always curious about our three children and that was a great comfort for Ben, losing his parents so young. Our children have a good memory of tante Truus en oom Rinus; they were like grandparents for them, they did not had themselves. For years they send us a Christmaspresent and we spend that always to our children: "The swing in the garden was from tante Truus en oom Rinus!" When I remarried she wanted to come over, but she did not succeed. Then she gave me a call and we had a long conversation. It is a pity we never saw eachother again.

About a week ago I made a photo of my family for her. Unfortunately it is too late.

 

Lieve tante Truus,

Heel hartelijk bedankt voor wat u voor ons hebt betekend. U blijft altijd in onze herinnering.

Liefs,

Antoinette

Several years ago, Oma visited my family here in Seattle. She stayed with us and we had a lot of bonding time together. One afternoon, I was in her room and we were playing dress-up. We put on wigs and Kimonos and took a bunch of silly pictures. We took her to my dad's company picnic where she slipped away and somehow met the CEO of Amazon! It is well known of her super human friend-making abilities. She also insisted on going on all of the inflatable obstacle courses with me. I had a ball with her when she was here, and was lucky enough to visit with her multiple times. I will never forget her goofy sarcasm and the way she insisted on eating dessert first. We had a lot of ice cream together. ( :  I love you Oma and will miss you forever.

When Claire was a baby Tante Toets visited us in the city for 2 days. It was the first time I had spent time with her in years and the last time I spent time with her. We talked all day and all night long. When I took her to the train station I remember feeling like I wanted more time. There is never enough time, I should have made more effort. She was so much a part of my life growing up, I should have made the time.