Gertrude P. Reitsma
December 1, 1928 — July 11, 2012
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Past Services
Visitation
Funeral Service
Interment
Gertrude P. Reitsma
Born on December 1, 1928 in Malden, she was a daughter of the late Glendon S. and Hilda P. (Olson) Hampton.She was raised in Everett, graduated from Everett High School with the Class of 1946, and attended the Whidden Memorial Hospital School of Nursing.She worked as an LPN for several years at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, in banking in downtown Melrose, and for many years as an Administrator in Human Resources.
Mrs. Reitsma was a longtime and active member of the Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts of America.She was a Girl Scout herself during childhood, and as a parent, she was a Troop Leader for her daughter and a Den Mother for her sons.She was also an active member of the First Baptist Church of Melrose for many years.
Gertrude, known as "Gert," was dedicated to her family.She always put caring for her 5 children first, and loved spending time with her grandchildren.As a mother of five, she became a highly proficient seamstress and made many warm winter jackets for her children.She and her husband Bill enjoyed camping, especially taking their RV to New Hampshire during the summer.Active outdoors throughout her life, she enjoyed the beach, skiing, skating, and canoeing. Later in life, Mrs. Reitsma was an excellent bocce player and enjoyed making jig-saw puzzles.Her other love was travelling which she and Bill often did together with their friends and family.She vacationed to Europe, Australia, Russia and loved going on cruises.But above all else, Gert loved her family and will be remembered as a wonderful matriarch who was devoted to her family.
Mrs. Reitsma was the beloved wife of William P. "Bill" Reitsma, Jr. with whom she shared 63 years of marriage.Devoted mother of Gail R. Wolejko and her husband Dr. Raymond Wolejko of Lunenburg, Glenn P. Reitsma and his wife Pamela of Scotts Valley, CA, Roy W. Reitsma and his wife Kimberly Thomas of Myrtle Beach, SC, David M. Reitsma and his wife Jena of Acton, and Scott H. Reitsma and his wife Kayla DeWees of Shrewsbury.Dear sister of Priscilla A. Carbone and her husband Ralph of Lynnfield, and the late Barbara J. Muise and Charlotte B. Hampton.Cherished grandmother of Matthew and his wife Joanna, Jeffrey, Thomas, Amy and her husband Ramon, Corey, Marissa, Luke, and Emma.She is also survived many nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends will gather in honor and remembrance of Gert's life for visiting hours at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose on Sunday, July 15 from 2-6 PM, and for her Funeral Service celebrated at the Brooksby Village Chapel, 100 Brooksby Village Dr., Peabody, on Monday at 11 AM.Interment in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gertrude P. Reitsma, please visit our flower store.
Past Services
Visitation
Sunday, July 15, 2012
2:00 - 6:00 pm
Robinson Funeral Home
Funeral Service
Monday, July 16, 2012
Starts at 11:00 am
Chapel at Brooksby Village
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