Hermina Verbree

Our mom, Hermina Verbree, joined our dad, and other loved ones in heaven, on May 28 at the age of 95.  

Mom was born in Broek op Langedijk, Holland, on Feb. 18, 1927, to Abraham and Jacoba (Verheus) Pielkenrood.

After the war, mom immigrated to Artesia, California, in early 1951, sponsored by her sister, Corrie Griepsma. She worked as a live-in nanny for a Dutch family.

Mom met our dad, Dick C. Verbree, another Dutch immigrant at church, and they married on Oct. 10, 1951.

Dad was employed as a milker on a dairy in Artesia, and mom became a homemaker, raising their children.

They owned/operated dairy’s in the San Fernando Valley, Bakersfield California, and last in Lynden.  

Mom did not hold any outside jobs after she got married, helping on the dairy if needed, but instead invested time in caring for her husband, children, and grandchildren.

Mom created a real bond with each grandchild with the amount of time she babysat them. She always found people to invite to Thanksgiving or Sunday lunch and was very welcoming.

After dad retired, they did some longer trips in their motor-home traveling to New York, Alaska, California, Canada, and places in-between.  

Mom and dad were married for 60 years before his death in July, 2012.

Mom is survived by their four children, Barb and Andy Mellema, Martin and Juanita Verbree, Jackie and Roger Blok, and Alice and Louis Vander Giessen. They were blessed with 17 grandchildren, and 35 great-grandchildren.

Mom was one of eight siblings, an older brother, Herman, died as an infant and she was named after him.

Mom was the last living of her siblings, Anna, Maartje, Guart, Corrie, Kees, and Coba. 

Mom spent her last years at Glorious Adult home in Lynden, where she had the most loving care possible.  Thank you Jeannie, Ryo, Roland and Lilibeth.

Mom and dad were long time members of Covenant Grace Reformed Church where she served on the Hospitality Committee.  

God and family were important to them, and they left a rich heritage for us.  

Memorials are suggested to: Lighthouse Mission, P.O. Box 548, Bellingham WA 98227.

The memorial service will be Thursday, June 2 at Covenant Grace Reformed Church at 11 a.m.

A private family burial preceded in Greenwood Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.