With sadness, the family of Henderkien Rogerson (Ebels) of Sackville New Brunswick, wishes to announce her passing on September 13, 2019 at The Drew Nursing Home, Sackville, N.B. less than 3 weeks before her 101st birthday.
Hennie was born on October 2, 1918 to Albert and Annechien (Abbring) Ebels, in Groningen, The Netherlands.
Life changed dramatically for Hennie in 1946, when she became a Dutch War Bride, and followed her husband John Rogerson to Canada. Her crossing of the Atlantic Ocean was very memorable, as it included Canada’s Prime Minister MacKenzie King as a passenger, a hurricane, and to no surprise, sea sickness for days. Perhaps this experience was not so daunting for a lady who spent her early to mid twenties working for the Dutch Resistance, helping those so terribly oppressed in her city, at great risk to her own life.
Her next adventures were adapting to a new country, a new language, and a rural setting. Soon she was busy raising four children, while being very active in her community and church in the Baie Verte/Port Elgin area. John and Hennie moved to Sackville in 1987, where they made many new friends and enjoyed the next stage of their lives together.
Hennie’s favorite pastime was knitting. During the war her knitting needles were at times used as radio antennas for receiving signals for the Resistance. She employed those needles until she was 94 years old, when she was still knitting "teddies for tragedy", and "baby pneumonia vests" for church projects.
Besides her parents, Hennie was predeceased by an infant brother, her sister Margaretha Rutchi and nephew Paul Rutchi, both of Australia, as well as her husband John Rogerson.
She is survived by her four children: Agnes Rogerson of Sackville N.B., David Rogerson (Carol) of Halifax N.S., Margaret Flynn (Lew DeForest) of Halifax N.S., and Audrey Sullivan (Stuart) of Edmonton Alberta. She is survived by six grandchildren: Johnathon Boudreau, Ryan and Peter Rogerson, Amanda Sullivan, Andrea Goldstein, and Sean Sullivan. She lived to see six great grand daughters: Ashlynn Boudreau, Ella Rogerson, Amelia and Heidi VanderWal, Anna and Madeleine Goldstein. Hennie is also survived by one niece, Marijke Edgar of Australia.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Jones Funeral Home, 70 Bridge St., Sackville, NB (506-364-1300) where visiting hours will take place on Thursday, September 19, 2019 from 6 to 8 pm. Hennie's funeral service will be held from St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Sackville, on Friday, September 20, 2019 at 2 pm, Rev. Jeff Murray officiating. Following a reception in the church hall, her burial will take place in the Fernwood Cemetery, Port Elgin, NB.
Those wishing to make a donation in Hennie's memory may do so to the charity of your choice.
Sharing of memories and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting Hennie's online memorial at www.jonesfuneralhome.ca or through the Jones Funeral Home Facebook Page.