By Staff
Mrs. Gerda Cornelia Van Staalduinen Tigchelaar, age 86, a resident of 102 Meredith Road, Washington, NC went to be with her Lord and Savior while surrounded by her family Tuesday May 12, 2009.
A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday May 16, 2009 at the Terra Ceia Christian Reformed Church officiated by Mrs. Tigchelaar’s son, Pastor James Tigchelaar. Burial will follow in Pamlico Memorial Gardens. Walter Harris, Jr., Carl Harris, Daryl Harris, Scott Harris, Danny Davis, Casey Van Staalduinen, Leonard Van Staalduinen, Marshall Lilley, Mike Lassiter and Rob Andrews will serve as pallbearers. Elders and Deacons of Terra Ceia Christian Reformed Church will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Mrs. Gerda was born in S’Gravenzande, The Netherlands on July 23, 1922 daughter of the late Leendert and Cornelia Van Der Sar Van Staalduinen. She moved with her parents and family to Canada where she met the love of her life John “Joe” Tigchelaar, Sr. who she married on March 11, 1943. They moved to Terra Ceia in 1948 where they became members of Terra Ceia Christian Reformed Church. Mrs. Gerda was a Sunday School teacher, a volunteer with the Beaufort County Developmental Center and a volunteer at the Beaufort County Nursing Home where she gave art lessons. She was an avid supporter of Beaufort County Relay For Life, JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes and the Beaufort County Humane Society. Mrs. Gerda was the 1999 Washington Daily News Mother of the Year. Mrs. Gerda along with her husband Joe had a shared ministry of being foster parents to 18 children and her largest personal ministry was her card ministry, sending encouragement virtually daily for all events of one’s life.
Surviving along with her husband of 66 years are two sons: John Tigchelaar, Jr. of Denver, CO and James Tigchelaar and his wife Elaine of Washington; three daughters: Corry T. Harris and her husband Walter, Sr. of Pantego, Margaret Tigchelaar of Edenton and Carole T. Carrothers and her husband Tom of Zebulon; nine grandchildren: Walter Harris, Jr. and his wife Lisa of Pantego, Carl Harris and his wife Marsha of Winterville, James Daryl Harris and his wife Carlotta of Raleigh, Joshua Tigchelaar and his wife Cathy of Arvada, CO, Mary Landis and her husband Larry of Denver, CO, Jaime Davis and her husband Danny of Kinston, Erica Lassiter and her husband Mike of Washington, Jessica Andrews and her husband Rob of Washington and Angel Carothers of Zebulon; twelve great grandchildren; four brothers: Hank Van Staalduinen and his wife Anne of Pantego, Bill Van Staalduinen and his wife Tina of Pantego, Hugh Van Staalduinen of Marian, NY and Martin Van Staalduinen and his wife Jan of Holland MI; three sisters: Tina Ipema and her husband Peter of Grand Rapids, MI, Corry Van Staalduinen of Grand Rapids, MI and Coba Bouman and her husband John of Grandville, MI; two sisters-in-law: Barbara Van Staalduinen of Elizabethton, TN and Holly Van Staalduinen of Pantego and numerous nieces and nephews which were dear and special to Mrs. Gerda. She was preceded in death by her parents; two grandchildren: Ivan Tigchelaar and De Anna Nicole Tigchelaar; two brothers: Rev. Leonard Van Staalduinen and Cornelis “Case” Van Staalduinen and a sister-in-law: Jane Van Staalduinen.
The family will receive friends 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday May 15, 2009 at Paul Funeral Home of Washington and at other times at the home.
Flowers are welcome and appreciated and the family kindly asks that any memorial contributions be made to the Terra Ceia Christian School, 4428 Christian School Road, Pantego, NC 27860.
“Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to everyone that is to come.” (Psalm 71: 18).
Mrs. Gerda’s video tribute may be viewed and condolences may be directed to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.
Paul Funeral Home of Washington is serving Mrs. Gerda’s family.
Paid Obituary