Billie Ruth van der Giessen was born in Dallas, Texas on August 5, 1928. She passed away Tuesday, February 17, 2015, after a courageous battle with ALS in Providence Hospital in Mobile, AL. She was surrounded by friends and family.
She was a creative soul who enjoyed participating in the arts and made the world more beautiful throughout her life with her excellent needlework, painting, and dollmaking. She passed her artistic talents on to her children, who follow in her tradition of contributing beauty through painting and needlework. A consummate homemaker, Billie was a fabulous cook and enjoyed preparing gourmet treats for her family and friends. She was gracious, kind, and deeply beloved by her family, who knew her as “Oma”.
Billie was predeceased by her mother, Cozette Springfield and her father Louie Springfield; as well as her sister, Kathaleen Springfield. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Peter van der Giessen; her daughter Nella MacRae and her husband Dr. David MacRae; her son Maarten van der Giessen and his wife Colleen Kelleher; as well as her brother Louie Springfield. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Ian MacRae, Anna MacRae Thomas, Andrew MacRae, and Alec MacRae.
A memorial service will be held at Christ Church Cathedral for Billie Ruth and her husband, Peter Christian van der Giessen, on Saturday, March 14th at 11:00am for family and friends.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Mobile Botanical Gardens Aromi Garden.
Not my line, just sharing.