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February 23, 2020
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2020, beginning 10:00 AM at the Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church, 415 Boulevard, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444. Friends are asked to meet directly at the church. Interment will follow at East Ridgelawn Cemetery, Clifton.
Gertrude “Trudy” Slootmaker, age 80, of Pequannock, died on Sunday, February 23 2020. Her family was lovingly gathered by her side at the time of her passing.
Trudy was born in Passaic, NJ on June 12, 1939. She was the only child of Henry and Nettie Densel. She was the delight of her parents who were in their late 30’s when she was born. In her early years, Trudy was doted on by her Dad, and there are pictures of her as a young girl with dozens of dolls. Sadly though, this happy family was not long lived. When Trudy was only 5 years old, her father Henry passed away at the young age of 42, and his death left a huge void in her life. She was blessed with a wonderful, loving mother in Nettie. Trudy and Nettie were never really apart until Nettie’s passing in 2005 at the age of 103.
After Henry’s passing, Trudy and Nettie moved in with Henry’s brother Richard “Dick” Densel and his wife Connie. They lived with this family in Passaic Park, NJ until Trudy’s marriage in 1959. Trudy attended Passaic public schools and graduated from Passaic High School in 1957.
The Densel family attended the Free Reformed Church, first in Passaic, and later in Clifton, NJ where Trudy’s uncle, Rev. Benjamin Densel was the pastor. Trudy was the church organist. She played the organ from her teenage years in Clifton right up into her 70’s when she played for services at Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church . It was at the church that Trudy met Neil Slootmaker. The two were childhood friends who grew into teenage sweethearts. They were married on May 12, 1959 at the Free Reformed Church with Trudy’s Uncle Ben officiating and her Uncle Dick walking her down the aisle.
Trudy and Neil honeymooned in Florida and settled into an apartment in Paterson. It was here that they welcomed their first son Henry Densel Slootmaker into the world. The young family purchased a house on Curie Avenue in Clifton. The family grew quickly as twins Janet and John were born. Nettie moved in with Neil and Trudy at this time and remained with them for the rest of her life. The household continued getting larger as Nettie married Job Faber and then son William and daughter Nanci arrived. The family moved to Pequannock Township in December 1979. Not long after the move, the youngest child, Cynthia was born. All in all, Trudy and Neil had six children over a span of 21 years.
Nothing gave Trudy more joy in life than being a mom. She loved her children deeply and devoted herself to their care. She always sought the best for them and did what she could to make sure that they were well cared for. Holidays and birthdays were among the occasions that she showered gifts on them. She really enjoyed having fun with her children. Family vacations to Ormond Beach, Florida, including the long drive to Florida from NJ, were always an adventure.
Trudy was a great cook. There hasn’t been a cookbook published that she didn’t own. She’d like to get ideas from a variety of sources and then put her own spin on them. She provided many wonderful meals for her family and enjoyed preparing them.
Trudy also loved people. She’d chat with just about anybody and soon become fast friends. In the 1990’s she drove a school bus for the Netherlands Reformed Christian School and loved all “her kids” that she brought back and forth to school. In later years, she’d see them as adults and remind them that they were one of “her kids”.
Trudy’s Christian faith was a vital part of who she was. She loved to play the organ and sing Psalters and hymns. For many years, the organ was a central piece in the living room and the family would gather together to sing. She always told people that she sought to play music to “the honor and glory of God”. She loved to be in worship and wanted her family to be there too. In recent years when she was not always able to get to church, she’d watch services on her iPad as they were broadcast over the web. She sought to serve God and was grateful for the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Trudy will be deeply missed by her family. She loved them dearly and they loved her the same. She is survived by her devoted husband of 60 years, Cornelius “Neil” Slootmaker and her six loving children and their spouses: Henry, John (Mary), William (Bonnie) & Cynthia Slootmaker, Janet (Scott) Okken and Nanci (Steven) Wozniak. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren: Henry (Elizabeth), Ryan, Robert (Leann), John (Stephanie), William, Alexander & Benjamin Slootmaker, Jennifer (Gonzalo) Diaz, Jeffrey (Lauren) Okken, Jessica (Paul) Sullivan, Tyler, Evan & Kayla Wozniak and 5 great grandchildren: Auston, Mason, Teagan, Gonzalo, & Gabriel.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Trudy Slootmaker's memory to www.overlookfoundation.org. (If donating online you must click on the donate button and then the "Designation" drop down box and choose "Other", then type in "Thomas Glasser Curegivers Center at Overlook Medical Center."
Overlook Foundation
Donation to: Thomas Glasser Curegivers Center
46-48 Beauvoir Ave
Summit, NJ 07901
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2020, beginning 10:00 AM at the Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church, 415 Boulevard, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444. Friends are asked to meet directly at the church. Interment will follow at East Ridgelawn Cemetery, Clifton.
February 23, 2020
Services
Friends may visit with the family on Wednesday, February 26, 2020 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 27, 2020, beginning 10:00 AM at the Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church, 415 Boulevard, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444. Friends are asked to meet directly at the church. Interment will follow at East Ridgelawn Cemetery, Clifton.
Gertrude “Trudy” Slootmaker, age 80, of Pequannock, died on Sunday, February 23 2020. Her family was lovingly gathered by her side at the time of her passing.
Trudy was born in Passaic, NJ on June 12, 1939. She was the only child of Henry and Nettie Densel. She was the delight of her parents who were in their late 30’s when she was born. In her early years, Trudy was doted on by her Dad, and there are pictures of her as a young girl with dozens of dolls. Sadly though, this happy family was not long lived. When Trudy was only 5 years old, her father Henry passed away at the young age of 42, and his death left a huge void in her life. She was blessed with a wonderful, loving mother in Nettie. Trudy and Nettie were never really apart until Nettie’s passing in 2005 at the age of 103.
After Henry’s passing, Trudy and Nettie moved in with Henry’s brother Richard “Dick” Densel and his wife Connie. They lived with this family in Passaic Park, NJ until Trudy’s marriage in 1959. Trudy attended Passaic public schools and graduated from Passaic High School in 1957.
The Densel family attended the Free Reformed Church, first in Passaic, and later in Clifton, NJ where Trudy’s uncle, Rev. Benjamin Densel was the pastor. Trudy was the church organist. She played the organ from her teenage years in Clifton right up into her 70’s when she played for services at Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church . It was at the church that Trudy met Neil Slootmaker. The two were childhood friends who grew into teenage sweethearts. They were married on May 12, 1959 at the Free Reformed Church with Trudy’s Uncle Ben officiating and her Uncle Dick walking her down the aisle.
Trudy and Neil honeymooned in Florida and settled into an apartment in Paterson. It was here that they welcomed their first son Henry Densel Slootmaker into the world. The young family purchased a house on Curie Avenue in Clifton. The family grew quickly as twins Janet and John were born. Nettie moved in with Neil and Trudy at this time and remained with them for the rest of her life. The household continued getting larger as Nettie married Job Faber and then son William and daughter Nanci arrived. The family moved to Pequannock Township in December 1979. Not long after the move, the youngest child, Cynthia was born. All in all, Trudy and Neil had six children over a span of 21 years.
Nothing gave Trudy more joy in life than being a mom. She loved her children deeply and devoted herself to their care. She always sought the best for them and did what she could to make sure that they were well cared for. Holidays and birthdays were among the occasions that she showered gifts on them. She really enjoyed having fun with her children. Family vacations to Ormond Beach, Florida, including the long drive to Florida from NJ, were always an adventure.
Trudy was a great cook. There hasn’t been a cookbook published that she didn’t own. She’d like to get ideas from a variety of sources and then put her own spin on them. She provided many wonderful meals for her family and enjoyed preparing them.
Trudy also loved people. She’d chat with just about anybody and soon become fast friends. In the 1990’s she drove a school bus for the Netherlands Reformed Christian School and loved all “her kids” that she brought back and forth to school. In later years, she’d see them as adults and remind them that they were one of “her kids”.
Trudy’s Christian faith was a vital part of who she was. She loved to play the organ and sing Psalters and hymns. For many years, the organ was a central piece in the living room and the family would gather together to sing. She always told people that she sought to play music to “the honor and glory of God”. She loved to be in worship and wanted her family to be there too. In recent years when she was not always able to get to church, she’d watch services on her iPad as they were broadcast over the web. She sought to serve God and was grateful for the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Trudy will be deeply missed by her family. She loved them dearly and they loved her the same. She is survived by her devoted husband of 60 years, Cornelius “Neil” Slootmaker and her six loving children and their spouses: Henry, John (Mary), William (Bonnie) & Cynthia Slootmaker, Janet (Scott) Okken and Nanci (Steven) Wozniak. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren: Henry (Elizabeth), Ryan, Robert (Leann), John (Stephanie), William, Alexander & Benjamin Slootmaker, Jennifer (Gonzalo) Diaz, Jeffrey (Lauren) Okken, Jessica (Paul) Sullivan, Tyler, Evan & Kayla Wozniak and 5 great grandchildren: Auston, Mason, Teagan, Gonzalo, & Gabriel.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Trudy Slootmaker's memory to www.overlookfoundation.org. (If donating online you must click on the donate button and then the "Designation" drop down box and choose "Other", then type in "Thomas Glasser Curegivers Center at Overlook Medical Center."
Overlook Foundation
Donation to: Thomas Glasser Curegivers Center
46-48 Beauvoir Ave
Summit, NJ 07901
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