Mum's Obituary
Rob told me last Saturday that Mum's obituary, written by Rev. David Martin, rector of St. Laurence Church, Alvechurch, had appeared in the May edition of The Grapevine. The church newsletter is delivered to all homes in Alvechurch.
PIETERNELLA KAATJE JANNY CATER
A lady who was born in Holland and moved to Alvechurch in 1959 died on 6 March at the age of 85.
Pieternella Kaatje Janny Cater was one of eight children born into a family in Rotterdam, Holland during the Second World War. Three of her siblings survive. Her childhood was spent in war-torn Holland, but, in 1947, she came to England and met her husband-to-be, Chris, at Speakers Corner, Hyde Park. They married in 1948 and shared fifty-five years together until his death in 2003.
She was the mother of two children – Belinda and Robert – grandmother to four – John, Tim, Peter and Brenda – and great-grandmother to six – Katherine, Stephen, Joshua, Emily, Tiffany and Victoria.
Having worked as a typist in Holland she came to England as a nanny to an Austrian family living in London. After living for a time in Caterham, Romsley and Hagley, she moved into Bear Hill in 1959 and took up employment with Autocar Transporters – a firm based at the Brickyards on Scarfield Hill. When the company relocated to Wythall, she accompanied them and remained in their employment until 1981.
Subsequent homes in Alvechurch included Snake Lane (1997-2004) and Tanyard Close (2004 –2012). She was a member of Alvechurch Baptist Church during the ministry of Sister Connie, and also of the Monday Sycamore Club. She had friends in his country and in Canada where her daughter lives.
She will be remembered as a person who exuded unconditional love. This was based upon a strong faith under-girded by daily bible reading and prayer. She saw the best in everyone and was positive, well-organised and creative. Added to this went a sense of humour.
Her funeral was held at Redditch Crematorium on Tuesday 20 March. The hymns sung were The Lord’s my shepherd and Amazing grace. After the service a reception was held in The Ark.
Comments
"She will be remembered as a person who exuded unconditional love. This was based upon a strong faith under-girded by daily bible reading and prayer. She saw the best in everyone and was positive, well-organised and creative. Added to this went a sense of humour." She sounds remarkably like her daughter. The apple has not fallen far.
Bless you, Belinda!
You know, people in the village love reading the obituaries, and me too, when there. Rev.Martin puts a lot of care into what he writes about each person, but I always feel sad when it is just a list of where the person worked or what their hobbies were, etc. I always think, "There has to be more!" With Mum there was so much more.