She was educated in Dutch Roman Catholic schools where her music became the basis for her ability as an organist in later life.

In the family bakery she endured the military occupation of Holland, and devoted herself after the war to caring for her ailing mother.

Later while working as a housekeeper in an Amsterdam hotel she learned of an opportunity to work as a diningroom stewardess aboard a Dutch ocean liner and sailed twice around the world. When the crew was given liberty in Florida, she decided to emmigrate to America and came to Los Angeles in 1961 where she met Robert, sorely in need for a mother to his children.

Leny and Robert have worked together for 43 years making their home a place of happiness. The home's unique landscaping is largely a monument to the abilities of this remarkable woman, who furnished many ideas and willingly labored to make it complete. She is survived by 3 stepchildren Jeffrey, Julie, and Elsa as well as her husband Robert.

April 5th there will be a ceremony in Roggel.

I'M STILL HERE

Beloved, please don't mourn for me, I'm still here, though you don't see.
I'm right by your side each night and day and within your heart I long to stay.

My body is gone but I'm always near. I'm everything you feel, see or hear.
My spirit is free, but I'll never depart as long as you keep me alive in your heart.

I'll never wander out of your sight, I'm the brightest star on a summer night.
I'll never be beyond your reach, I'm the warm moist sand when you're at the beach.

I'm the colorful leaves when fall comes around and the pure white snow that blankets the ground.
I'm the beautiful flowers of which you're so fond, the clear cool water in a quiet pond.

I'm the first bright blossom you'll see in the spring, the first warm raindrop that April will bring.
I'm the first ray of light when the sun starts to shine, and you'll see that the face in the moon is mine.

When you start thinking there's no one to love you, you can talk to me through the Lord above you.
I'll whisper my answer through the leaves on the trees, and you'll feel my presence in the soft summer breeze.

I'm the hot salty tears that flow when you weep and the beautiful dreams that come while you sleep.
I'm the smile you see on a baby's face. Just look for me, beloved, I'm everyplace!

My dad, Robert and I went on a 7000 mile trip in the summer of 1964, the last one without Leny. Here we are in Ironwood, Michigan at my dad's cousin Eva and Al's house. He might have been comtemplating marriage with Leny on the trip. The car in the background is a 1964 Chevy Nova which was Robert and Leny's first car. He kept it until 1969, at which time the couple suffered from choosing a series of much less reliable cars.

Robert tells a story about driving Leny to the Beverly Hilton, where she worked in 1963, to pick up her termination papers. The couple was stopped at a roadblock near the hotel, due to a motorcade containing President Kennedy passing by on his way to this very hotel. This was just about 2 weeks before Kennedy was assasinated in Texas.

After the Hilton job, Leny got a job at the Good Samaritan Hospital, but had to walk 3 miles to work from Ruth's house to get to work. Robert, gave her rides occasionally, until Leny got an apartment closer to work. From a saved phone bill, the address of this apartment was: 502 S Westlake Ave in Los Angeles.

Leny expressed an interest in seeing the Rose Parade towards the end of the year, and Robert volunteered to take her there. This was their first date (Jan 1 1964), and the couple fell in love and married on November 5, 1964.

After the marriage, Ruth's cousin Roy, who was staying at Robert's house, was asked to find another place to live at this time.

Robert and Leny never missed any important event in Robert's children's lives.

This was repeated later, when Julie brought her family out to Borrego for Christmas, and Robert and Leny drove from L.A., and Ruth brought Elsa out from Texas.

During the few years when Jef and Kathy visited, Kathy managed to get Robert and Leny out of their rut of going to the same common restaurants (like Sizzler), and dragged them out to a couple of local unusual eateries, such as the German-themed Red Lion: