Shanon VAN DER MERWE

Notes:

Esmé Valerie Needham - Daughter

Dit wat ek van my ma kan onthou is dat sy baie lief daarvoor was om te onthaal. Boonop was sy vreeslik kunstig en kon enigeiets mooi maak.

Sy was baie diplomaties. As sy jou die dag invlieg en hel toe stuur, het jy eintlik uitgesien na die rit.

Sy was baie erg oor Shanté en het haar Cupcake genoem.

Ek mis haar vreeslik, veral as die kinders take het om te doen vir skool.

Melinda (Lindie) van der Schyf neé Brooks

I used to visit Shanny often. She always had lost and lots of pets. I remeber two of the things she did to generate an income. One of them was to draw, cut out and paint disney characters onto Polystyrene and sell those. Then there were the plaster of paris moulds she made of litterally anything. Animals, vegetables, fruit anything. These too wwer then painted and sold as ornaments.

Strange I can not think of one time where I was in the room where I would have slept. She led a busy life and we were always on the go. She would also take me with to Aunty Penny, her sister-in-law. Their daughter and I would 'Make Up' concerts for them to songs like ... Ring Ring of Abba, Rhinestone Cowboy, I don't wanna play house etc. Aunty Penny would make popcorn and pour colddrink for the 'show'. Often we also visited Didi, Shannon's Mom-in-law.

Denis was not around that much, always working and worked alot of overtime. What I do recall of him was that he was a quiet man. I remeber going with Shanny to fetch him from work one afternoon, and the music that was playing that aftrernoon for some reason stuck with me, and I still enjoy them today.

Family/Spouse: Denis NEEDHAM. Denis was born on 9 Sep 1947 in Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa; died on 1 Jan 2009 in Polokwane, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Esmé Valerie NEEDHAM was born on 24 Jul 1978.
2. Dennis NEEDHAM was born on 10 Aug 1984.

Notes:

Lindie van der Schyf - Niece

When in primary school, I sometimes used to stay with Aunty Sarie Du Preez in the afternoons after school. For a time, Uncle Stan lived in one of the out rooms there with them too. When I was in high School, Aunty Sarie lived with us for a while. When I asked my mom how she fitted into our lives, she told me that Aunty Sarie, who stayed in Ferndale, and Aunty Maude were best friends.

Stan and Maude used to go dancing often. He had no family and lived with his granny Ouma Kruis, who lived next door to the Methodist church in Craighaal Park. This little church was buit with zinc sheeting. The house Aunty Sarie stayed in when I stayed with her after school was also a little zink house.

One day when I got home from school, Uncle Stan had bought me a guitar ... an electric blue guitar ... and I REALLY tried tuning it and try to play 1 chord that did not sound out of tune. It was not until I was in standard nine (Grade 11) when my parents bought me a Yamaha guitar, that I realized nobody would be able to tune the Electric Blue guitar.

He did not have a steady job at the time and I realize it must have cost him a fortune on his budget. Such a special gift.

Stan married Maude Esther VAN DYK. Maude (daughter of Joseph John (Pollie) VAN DYK and Jacomina Gertruida DE LA REY) was born about 1928 in Christiana, Transvaal, South Africa; died about 1970 in Edenvale, , Transvaal, South Africa. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Jacomina Gertruida (Minnie) Constantinou neé van Dyk - Youngest Sister

Maude was much older than I was. She was 12 years older than me. What I do know is that she used to love wearing shorts. Maude loved to go dancing, and our mom made her the most beautiful dresses.

After divorcing her first husband Stan, she was financially not able to take care of her daughter, Shonnon, on her own. She had to work and in the end the best option was to bring Shanny home to us and she lived with us untill she had to go to high school in Edenvale.

Maude and Stan used to go dancing very often.

Maude also worked at Barclays Bank. She was an exceptionally hard and good worker. The branch manager said that when Maude's health did not permit her to be at work, he merely locked her office door ... because he knew when she can comeback to work, she will catch up any all backlogs.

When I started looking for a job, Maude said I should go to the branch where she worked, and she gave me some forms to fill in. That same day still her branch manager sent me to the Hillbrow branch of Barclays, and that is where my banking career started ... worked for the bank for 22 years.

Maude had her own netball team. She was a talented player and captain of the team, and Dot and I used to play for her. We would have practice every Wednesday in Mayfair, Johannesburg.

I forget the name of the person Maude married after she divorced Stan. But it did not last long, and she later married her 3rd husband George Higgins. He was a real saint, and he really loved Maude a lot. When she was in hospital, uncle George bought her a beautiful car to ride around with. He then gave her old Volksie to me.

Sadly, after being discharged from hospital her and Shannon had a major argument and Maude took her own life.

Lindie van der Schyf neé Brooks - Niece

Aunty Maude always had windup toys. I remember playing with them in the entrance haal of the house she and uncle George lived in in Edenvale. There was also a little putt-putt course they would let me play on. Aunty Maude was very talented. She made the most beautiful handbags which she weaved. Yes, she made one for me too.

When in primary school, I sometimes used to stay with Aunty Sarie Du Preez in the afternoons after school. For a time, Uncle Stan lived in one of the out rooms there with them too. When I was in high School, Aunty Sarie lived with us for a while. When I asked my mom how she fitted into our lives, she told me that Aunty Sarie and Aunty Maude were best friends

Notes:

Jacomina Gertruida (Minnie) Constantinou neé van Dyk - Youngest Daughter

Our father's mom died when he was still a baby. He was the youngest of 4, having 3 older sisters. His father remarried Ouma Battie neé Louw. She had 6 other children when marrying Dad's father. Ouma Battie's mom was 106 years old when she passed away on Shannon's birthday.

When my dad was still young, he would take his horse and travel about a hundred miles to his favourite place in the world ... the Kalahari. He said that was the best place to look at the stars and moon at night. This he stopped doing once he got married. He was also a strong swimmer who loved swimming in the Vaal River.

After getting married, our parents lived in Lichtenburg and worked on the 'delwery'. Both Jimmy and Maude were born there. From there they moved to 57 Lancaster Avenue Craighall Park. The house dad built, he built right at the back of the property so that there was place in the front of the house for the boys to play with a ball.

Dad was also very artistic. He once moulded a horse for a horse owner, but then did not want to part with it. The last time I recall seeing it was in Maude's home. He also made little 'play-play' stoves for us, in which we could make real fires and really cook on.

He worked at Mandy's Engineering which was a foundry. Regardless of how dirty the job was, when Dad left for or returned from work he was always neatly dressed in a trouser, shirt, collar and tie ... and always with a hat.

On his way home at night, he would stop and buy the 'The Star' newspaper. Every night he would read 'Curly Wee' to Dot and I, in English, and then explain it to us in Afrikaans. Then we would each have to re-tell the story to him, first in English and the in Afrikaans, so that he was sure we fully understood it.

Dad loved fishing, and every second month he would load us all up into his big Diamond-T truck and take us fishing somewhere near Krugersdorp where there were caves and a little river. Was a trip we always looked forward to and enjoyed so much.

Times were tough, and as soon as the children were old enough to work, they had to leave school so that they sould help support the family.

Our Dad's favourite food was the Sunday meal. He would always choose what he wanted our Mom to cook, and more often than not it was roast chicken, rice, potatoes, beans, pumpkin etc. All grown and reared ourselves. His favourite pudding was Jelly and ice cream.

After Our Mom died his Life Partner was Lorraine Fester (Mother of the wife of our youngest brother Koos van Dyk) They lived in a flat in Mayfair for quite a while, from where they then moved to a flat that Koos built at their home in Alberton. There they stayed untill Dad died.

Lindie van der Schyf neé Brooks - Granddaughter

We often visited Oupa in the flat in Mayfair. He would tell me if my parents wanted to give me a hiding, I was to pack my suitcase and live with him. It was always fun visiting him and Aunty Lorraine. First of all, we always got such delicious food to eat. Then when going home, down would come the old coffee tin and I would get to choose three or so sweeties (From the Checkers Pick 'n Mix).

No child ever really wants to make tea and coffee for their parents ... BUT ... it was ALWAYS a pleasure when visiting Oupa. Why ... ... ... well the was a honey bottle (With a big yellow bee on) filled with condensed milk next to the kettle ... ... ... that really worked for me. How I though no one ever noticed that once I had been to visit there was always a substantial drop in the condensed milk level. They pretended not to notice.

I have memories of sitting with Oupa on his bed singing with him to Mississippi (A Pussycat Hit). He really liked that song and when it came on he would turn that little radio up loud. He used to use snuff, and on the odd occasion gave me some. Yes, I sneezed myself silly, but never learned the lesson. Maybe that is why I love sneezing today.

When I was in boarding school, on one occasion I visited with Oupa at the Johannesburg General Hospital, and he made me vow that I would never become a nurse. He did not want me exposed to working with or seeing naked men. He was very adamant about it and I had to make a solemn promise that I would never become a nurse.

Christina Ellen (Stienie) Blom neé van Dyk - Oudste Kleinkind

Vanaf 1963, sovêr ek kan onthou, het ek baie goeie tye saam met Ouma Mynie gehad toe ek by haar op die plaas gaan kuier het.

Eerstens, die plaashuis anderkant die populiersbos ... ... ... Daar het ek en my sus Bettie, en soms my boeties ook, gekuier. Voor die huis het 'n diep watervoor verby gevloei. Aan die kant van die huis was daar 'n groot poel wat met tyd gevorm het waar die trekkers deurgery het na die lande verderaan. Daar in die poel het ons altyd te lekker baljaar.

Soggens het die kombuishulp die lekkerste pap gemaak waarby Ouma eiers gebak het en oor die pap vir ons geskep het. Dan het Ouma vir ons uit die Bybel uit voorgelees en ons het hande gevat om saam te bid. Ouma het dan brood geknie en ons het uit die huis gegaan om te gaan speel. Ouma het die brode in die buite oond gebak, die lekkerste was die egte plaasbotter op 'n sny warm boere brood. Somtyds het Ouma vir ons eiervrug (in dun skyfies gesny) in botter gebak en op die brood was dit 'n heerlike lekkerny. Ook was varkvet op brood met sout en peper vir my konings kos.

Klokslag, elke dag voor 10h00, het daar 'n groot likkewaan in die watervoor afgekom. Ons het buite gespeel en as dit warm was het ons in die water baljaar. Ek onthou nog eendag, toe Oom Sidney nog by Tannie Minnie gekuier het, dat hulle saam met ons buite was waar ons geswem het en in die son gelê het. Ewe skielik was die kombers waarop ons lë oor my kop, en Oom Sid sê ek moet nie koekeloer nie, want ek mag nie sien wat grootmense doen nie, maar ek het geweet hy wil weer 'n soentjie steel.

Ouma was baie lief vir naaldwerk. Destyds was die meel sakkies van wit linne gemaak met patrone op gedruk. Sy het die sakkies spierwit uitgewas en dan die patrone uitgeborduur en vadoeke en voorskote gemaak. Van die groot sakke het sy kussingslope gemaak. Sy sou op die stoep in die koelte sit om ons dop te hou terwyl ons in die water speel. Altyd besig met die een of ander naaldwerkie.

As Oupa op die plaas was, het hy altyd saam met Oom Koos buite gewerk. Op 'n dag in 1964, terwyl Oupa aan sy kar gewerk het, het ek amper op 'n groen boomslang getrap wat uit die boom in die water geval het. Toe ek gil was Oupa dadelik by en gooi die slang met 'n moersleutel wat in sy hand was. Daardie dag was oupa ook amper gepik toe hy en Pennie (die jong bediende wat na ons gekeyk het) tussen die water plante gesoek het vir die slang. Skielik roep Pennie dat Oupa moet stilstaan, want ta se kind lê op 'n blaar van die waterplant digby Oupa se gesig. Sy het die slang toe doodgemaak. Daardie nag begin ek nagmerries kry en Oupa het gery van die plaas af na 'n noodapteek in Johannesburg om vir my medisyne te gaan kry.

Daar was ook familiebyeenkomste op die plaas gehou. Dan word daar geslag, bees, skaap en vark. Almal het dan hulle deel gekry om saam te neem huis toe. Ouma het 'n groot kole yskas gehad net buite die agterdeur waarin sy al die vleis, groente en eiers in gebêre het. Sy het ook vet uitgebraai en frikkedelle ingelê in flesse.

Kerstyd was die familie ook almal weer bymekaar. Die groeter kinders, ek en Shannon, het dan met al die kleintjies gespeel. Die plaashuis was baie groot en ons kon lekker wegkruipertjie speel in hom. Oom Joe en Oom Sid het altyd vir die kinders poetse gebak.

Jare daarna, by die plaashuis met die grasdak, was daar ook goeie tye gewees. Daar het ons lekker gespeel en ook in die besproeingsdam agter die huis geswem. Gereeld in die vrugte bome geklim, veral as die vrugte ryp was. Soms het ons ook gaan kyk hoe die werkers boontjies verpak vir die mark, of saam Oupa gery om vir Oom Koos kos weg te bring na die buurplaas waar hy op die tabaklande gewerk het.

Ek sal die plaashuise vir altyd onthou. As ek kon skilder, sou ek dit wat ek voor my geestesoog sien, op doek wou vas lê.

Die hartseerste dag was toe ons in die Kaap met vakansie was en die tyding gekry het van Ouma se afsterwe. Ons het dadelik gepak en teruggekom vir haar begrafnis. Dit was net so hartseer toe ons vir oulaas plaas toe is om al Ouma se goedjies op te pak. Daar het ek besef dat dat dit 'n deel van my lewe was wat afgesluit is.

Na Ouma se dood het het Oupa Mayfair in Johannesburg, Transvaal toe getrek. Ons het daar vir hom gaan kuier en hy het gereeld vir ons kom kuier.

Oupa en Ouma was twee groot ouers wat enige kind trots en geliefd laat voel het. Hulle was die sout van die aarde.

Rhonél Winnifred Woodford neé De Wet - Granddaughter

I never saw Oupa not dressed well. I had an amazing opportunity to spend time with Oupa just before his death. I had to drive his car from Alberton to town and he took me along to all his friends, from the Chinaman right through to the last one. He introduced me to them and said he is busy teaching me to drive. It was only later I realised he was saying goodbye to all of them.

Then on the return back to Alberton I had to manoeuvre the car at that very steep downhill at a robot in Southcrest near where Uncle Joe and Auntie Lettie stayed. Getting closer to the red robot Oupa told me the breaks not very good I should try the handbrake. WOW!!! That was a scary revalation, I can still feel my heart beat. Oupa did not die that day, but I am sure that trip did cut his life short at least by one day. Although Oupa never taught me to drive, I was so proud when he declared that I had passed his tests. He used to chain his car to the tree, it was a green Peugeot station wagon.

When he was in hospital for the 2nd last time I had the opportunity to spend it with him every day and I realised then what a proud old man he was.

I was very lucky to spend time with both my grandparents shortly before their deaths and there are memories I will always treasure, even though we lived far away in the Free State.

Joseph married Jacomina Gertruida DE LA REY. Jacomina (daughter of Jacobus Herculaas (Koos) DE LA REY) was born on 20 Apr 1906; died on 9 Jan 1967 in Johannesburg, S A. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Jacomina Gertruida (Minnie) Constantinou neé van Dyk - Youngest Daughter

Our mom was a humble person who never raised her voice. Love was always streaming from her, I am sure she was an Angel sent by God to be our mom. When we were naughty she would only make 'Big Eyes' and we all knew to tow the line.

Mom was born in the Cape. They resettled to Betuanaland, now Botswana, and that is where she grew up. She learned to speak the mother tongue of the black people as well as they could. Her Mom died when she was 9. She was the eldest daughter and had to take care of her younger sister Hester and the household. The black people taught her how to cook as well.

Her father was the son of Genl De La Rey, who would often come and visit to see if the children were ok after their mom had passed away.

When moving out as adults her eldest brother Koos lived in Vryburg. Her other brother Pieter married a lady with the name Hester (Who was crazy about Stan, Maude's 1st husband). Hester and Pieter had a son Ronnie and two daughters Erin and Cecilia, who used to be a real little snip when she was small. Mom's younger sister, also Hester, married Lovey Schmidt. They never had any children and always wanted me to go and live with them.

Mom baked bread daily. When Jimmy was off in the navy it was the remaining 5 children, Mom and Dad and 2 of Dad's half brothers all had to be fed. Her food was always tasty. Friday nights she would make fish and chips. The rest of the week was real 'Boere kos' with veggies from our garden and meat and rice or mealie rice. Sundays was roast chicken and Dad would choose what pudding he would like to have. His favourite pudding Bottled Peaches with Jelly and Ice Cream. We had our own vegetable garden and our own chickens. Some to slaughter and others for eggs. I was only allowed to carry 1 egg at a time

Our Mom really loved Bing Crosby's music. She always used to say "Hy kan maar sy skoene onder my bed kom sit". We had a radio, but the brothers also played for our entertainment. Joe played a piano and pianoaccordian, Koos played violin, guitar and Hawaiian guitar. Invariably the violin was out of tune, because I would always 're tune' it for Koos.

Our Mom could make the most beautiful clothes. She once made such a stunning evening dress for Maude to go dancing in, a pink dress with silver stars.

When Mom was released from hospital, she told me that she had cancer. She had to take 2 tablets a day and the 2 of us would rest a short while in the afternoon.

Melinda (Lindie) van der Schyf neé Brooks - Granddaughter

Oumie passed away when I was only 2. So I do not really have a vivid memory of her. What I do have is a 'knowing' of sleeping behind her back when she came to visit in the house we were renting from Dad's brother Uncle Willy. Somehow I also have a 'knowing' of her soft gentle soul

Christina Ellen (Stienie) Blom neé van Dyk - Oudste Kleinkind

Vanaf 1963, sovêr ek kan onthou, het ek baie goeie tye saam met Ouma Mynie gehad toe ek by haar op die plaas gaan kuier het.

Eerstens, die plaashuis anderkant die populiersbos ... ... ... Daar het ek en my sus Bettie, en soms my boeties ook, gekuier. Voor die huis het 'n diep watervoor verby gevloei. Aan die kant van die huis was daar 'n groot poel wat met tyd gevorm het waar die trekkers deurgery het na die lande verderaan. Daar in die poel het ons altyd te lekker baljaar.

Soggens het die kombuishulp die lekkerste pap gemaak waarby Ouma eiers gebak het en oor die pap vir ons geskep het. Dan het Ouma vir ons uit die Bybel uit voorgelees en ons het hande gevat om saam te bid. Ouma het dan brood geknie en ons het uit die huis gegaan om te gaan speel. Ouma het die brode in die buite oond gebak, die lekkerste was die egte plaasbotter op 'n sny warm boere brood. Somtyds het Ouma vir ons eiervrug (in dun skyfies gesny) in botter gebak en op die brood was dit 'n heerlike lekkerny. Ook was varkvet op brood met sout en peper vir my konings kos.

Klokslag, elke dag voor 10h00, het daar 'n groot likkewaan in die watervoor afgekom. Ons het buite gespeel en as dit warm was het ons in die water baljaar. Ek onthou nog eendag, toe Oom Sidney nog by Tannie Minnie gekuier het, dat hulle saam met ons buite was waar ons geswem het en in die son gelê het. Ewe skielik was die kombers waarop ons lë oor my kop, en Oom Sid sê ek moet nie koekeloer nie, want ek mag nie sien wat grootmense doen nie, maar ek het geweet hy wil weer 'n soentjie steel.

Ouma was baie lief vir naaldwerk. Destyds was die meel sakkies van wit linne gemaak met patrone op gedruk. Sy het die sakkies spierwit uitgewas en dan die patrone uitgeborduur en vadoeke en voorskote gemaak. Van die groot sakke het sy kussingslope gemaak. Sy sou op die stoep in die koelte sit om ons dop te hou terwyl ons in die water speel. Altyd besig met die een of ander naaldwerkie.

As Oupa op die plaas was, het hy altyd saam met Oom Koos buite gewerk. Op 'n dag in 1964, terwyl Oupa aan sy kar gewerk het, het ek amper op 'n groen boomslang getrap wat uit die boom in die water geval het. Toe ek gil was Oupa dadelik by en gooi die slang met 'n moersleutel wat in sy hand was. Daardie dag was oupa ook amper gepik toe hy en Pennie (die jong bediende wat na ons gekeyk het) tussen die water plante gesoek het vir die slang. Skielik roep Pennie dat Oupa moet stilstaan, want ta se kind lê op 'n blaar van die waterplant digby Oupa se gesig. Sy het die slang toe doodgemaak. Daardie nag begin ek nagmerries kry en Oupa het gery van die plaas af na 'n noodapteek in Johannesburg om vir my medisyne te gaan kry.

Daar was ook familiebyeenkomste op die plaas gehou. Dan word daar geslag, bees, skaap en vark. Almal het dan hulle deel gekry om saam te neem huis toe. Ouma het 'n groot kole yskas gehad net buite die agterdeur waarin sy al die vleis, groente en eiers in gebêre het. Sy het ook vet uitgebraai en frikkedelle ingelê in flesse.

Kerstyd was die familie ook almal weer bymekaar. Die groeter kinders, ek en Shannon, het dan met al die kleintjies gespeel. Die plaashuis was baie groot en ons kon lekker wegkruipertjie speel in hom. Oom Joe en Oom Sid het altyd vir die kinders poetse gebak.

Jare daarna, by die plaashuis met die grasdak, was daar ook goeie tye gewees. Daar het ons lekker gespeel en ook in die besproeingsdam agter die huis geswem. Gereeld in die vrugte bome geklim, veral as die vrugte ryp was. Soms het ons ook gaan kyk hoe die werkers boontjies verpak vir die mark, of saam Oupa gery om vir Oom Koos kos weg te bring na die buurplaas waar hy op die tabaklande gewerk het.

Ek sal die plaashuise vir altyd onthou. As ek kon skilder, sou ek dit wat ek voor my geestesoog sien, op doek wou vas lê.

Die hartseerste dag was toe ons in die Kaap met vakansie was en die tyding gekry het van Ouma se afsterwe. Ons het dadelik gepak en teruggekom vir haar begrafnis. Dit was net so hartseer toe ons vir oulaas plaas toe is om al Ouma se goedjies op te pak. Daar het ek besef dat dat dit 'n deel van my lewe was wat afgesluit is.

Na Ouma se dood het het Oupa Mayfair in Johannesburg, Transvaal toe getrek. Ons het daar vir hom gaan kuier en hy het gereeld vir ons kom kuier.

Oupa en Ouma was twee groot ouers wat enige kind trots en geliefd laat voel het. Hulle was die sout van die aarde.

Rhonél Winnifred Woodford neé De Wet - Granddaughter

What I can remember is that Ouma died when I was nearly 7. She used to safe guard me totally. The times I spent with her on the farm along with Shannie and Kosie were the best! I recall how she used to say that she always wanted to cut her hair shorter, when she had no choice to, after the Wicks Bubblegum I stuck behind her ears when I slept with her, got tangled in hair.

The times we use to go down the "voor" in the big bathtubs were awesom, best times on the farm. Then if you could just dip your hands in her tins of biscuits. She always had something for every one. She really loved my father and I think she was the only mother figure he ever had in his life.
Sometimes though I think he missed her more than what my mother did - my opinion only.

I was very lucky to spend time with both my grandparents shortly before their deaths and there are memories I will always treasure, even though we lived far away in the Free State.