Juanita de SMIDT Obituary

Juanita, Saturday was a month since you passed over to the other side. I miss you dearly my friend.I clearly remember the day you arrived in Auckland;waited with Anna-Maria at arrivals and the next thing there you were,wearing "Bennie Boek wurm" specs!You will always have a special place in my heart.RIP

Today is 14th July 2012, it has been 1 month since you left us Juanita, I miss you, I still find myself wondering if it's you who is at the door every time I hear a knock, then I remember you are no longer here, you are safe and not suffering any more.

When your dad asked us to say what we remembered about you during your prayers, I could not say anything, but it has got me thinking a whole lot since then, these are the MAIN, but certainly not all the reasons.

I REMEMBER ..........

All your love and support during what was for me a very dark, trying and depressing pregnancy, your little gifts to "our boy" as you called him and "don't worry we'll get through this, we are all here for you". Even before we found out the baby was a "he" you were 100% certain it was, how right you were :)

The times you came to visit me, the laughs we had, you always had a good joke, even when we could no longer "talk" to each other, you still visited me, I cherished those visits.

Every time I answered the door and you were there, I got a "stukkie broed asseblief."

All the little things you did to help us especially buying Dominique's confirmation photos for us, so we could have those memories in "hard copy" during a time when we could not afford that expense at all.

Finally, how much you enjoyed and loved Cristiano after he was born, I know how hurt you were when you could no longer speak and he got so frightened of you that he would scream and cry and refuse to go to you. I prayed to God then and soon he was no longer scared and started to go to you again, your smiles then said it all!

Dolph, Beulah, Jerome, Anna-Maria, Jarryd, Alex and all the rest of your family in South Africa, may God continue to give you the strength, courage and graces you need after the loss of your loved one, Juanita.

Just a last little thought, being so little Cristiano did not fully understand when I told him you have gone to be with Jesus and he demanded that Jesus "must give Nita back now", oh how I know you would enjoy that one :))

All our love, thoughts and prayers remain with you, Mark, Alex, Dominique, Angelique and Cristiano.

I met my friend in 1970 at ST. Augustines Primary School.I remember her because was always so athletic,so full of life and loads of energy.We parted ways when we had completed Std 5 in 1976 and we all went to different high schools but as the years go by one always wonders what happened to ones buddies from yore.You wonder how their lives turned out to be-what transpired in their lives.Even though the Cape Peninsula is not that big i never got to see my friend again until we met at my cousin Janita funeral in 1979.That was it.I did not get to see her again.But iam a great believer in destiny and God weaves his way into our lives and patches and sews our lives together without our realising it.Lo and behold i get to see my friend exactly 30 years later on our trip to New ZEALAND.It was like meeting the same Juanita that i had last seen in 1979 ,so invigorating ,so full of life-it was sooh wonderful to meet my old friend again.Is it not wonderful how God uses his loom to weave old friends together.i will always remember you my friend.

Hello Aunty Beaulah, Uncle Dolphi, Anna and family

I hope you are all coping after what must have been a trying time since Juanita's passing.

I felt the need to drop you a line after attending the Memorial Service in honour of Juanita.

What a beautiful service conducted by Fr Jerome, it bore witness to the fact of how many lives Juanita

had touched in her own special way.

What a trip down memory lane it was for me going back to Regina Coeli and meeting up with past students in my class of 32yrs ago.

The likes of Beaulah Ohlson, Karen Bagaretti and Gail Adams. I got a shock to see Marie- Anna, but yet felt so good after speaking to her

and realizing that she is coping with her situation.

She told me that she had spoken to you, Aunty Beaulah about what you are going through with your eyesight and how good it felt to be able

to chat to you and still feel the love and bond that you have.

How good it was to see the photos on display and recollect our family times spent at Ma and Pa Ernstzen's place.

It's at times like this, that we realize how important family is.

Val was also quite affected by her death, knowing that we are the same age. On the spur of the moment he decided to invite a few friends and family

around for Sunday lunch to celebrate her life, just to show appreciation for life and love of friendship.

So although she is not around physically to appreciate, she has brought a lot more positive actions into our daily lives and for this I am thankful.

Cheers for now

Love

Lynn Steenkamp

Our heartfelt condolences to Uncle Dolfie, Auntie Beaulah, Wayne, Anna-Marie, Paulita and their families on the passing of Juanita. The Botman and Abrahams families

Dear Mr & Mrs De Smidt, Anna, Jerome and the young men



I was saddened when I heard about the passing of Juanita, but we know that she is where we are all destined to be one day and that she is much happier than we can ever imagine. We will continue to pray for her soul and for the family.



God is surely pleased with your family for the way you accepted her illness, your strong faith and trust in God and His wonderful mother.

We will always remember her for the vibrant, loving and kind person that she was and her wonderful zest for life. And these too we know you will always hold dear to your heart.



With much love and prayers

From Eveline and family and all our prayer groups and Christel House as well

Let us thank our Almighty God for giving us the gift of Juanita. She was my first friend, I was allowed to be her protector, a task given only because I was older but much cherisahed. Nita we ark sad that we never able to be their in your time of 0need but was always in spirit and just a phonecall away.although we were miles away our dear parents and sister kept us always informed. Lord we thank you that the gift you gave us is now seated in your Kingdom. Thank you. Mom, Dad , Anna , Jerome, Paulita , Tim and the boys it is a time of sadnerss but its also a time of celebration. Her pain is gone, she is safe in Jesus arms and all we need to do is ask the Holy Spirit to guide us now to communicate with her. To all the awesome and beautiful people around the whole world who contacted us with messages, thoughts and love I thank you on my family's behalf and know that we treasure all your kindness as much as we treasure all the moments that comes to mind in this time. We would love to invite those of you in Cape Town to come and join us in a memorial mass on Satrurday 23 june @ 11.00a. Regina Coeli church, Klipfontein rd Belgravia (opp Athlone styadium). Thank you Mom and Dad, Anna and Jerome , Jarryd and Alex for making her life in the past years a happy one. May God in His kindness bless you all. To Paulita and Tim, Adam, Jordan, Debbie, Melissa and Robin thank you for keeping the family together with love and strength . To Frankie and Patty , Alana thank you too for all your love in Nita's life .all my love to all and everybody who was touched by Nita.lov e Wayne, Debbie , Melissa and Robin in Cape Town South Africa

To Uncle Dolphi, Aunty Beaulah, Wayne, Anna-Marie and Paulita and families
Take comfort in knowing that you have a special gaudian angel to watch over you
May her soul rest in peace
Love always
Maureen Michael Lotter

May Juanita rest in Peace, dear beloved treasured friend and peacemaker. Your legacy lives on as you brought so much joy to all who came into contact with you. Your smile and pretty eyes will always live in our hearts! Rosalind, Lisa, Chris and Aiden Maree

God looked around his garden
And He found an empty place.
And then He looked down upon the earth,
And saw your tired face.

He put His arms around you,
And lifted you to rest.
God's garden must be beautiful,
He always takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering,
He knew you were in pain,
He knew that you would never
Get well on earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough,
And the hills were hard to climb,
So He closed your weary eyelids,
And whispered"Peace be thine."

It broke our hearts to lose you .
But you didn't go alone,
For part of us went with you,
The day God called you home,Juanita

Our deepest condolences go to Uncle Dolph, Aunty Beulah, Wayne, Anna, Paulita & families

May Mary our Mother keep you all in her embrace during this time of grieve?

Luv David, Nikki, Davin & Kian – Cape Town

To the De Smidt Family in Cape Town and New Zealand,

Loosing a loved one is never easy, and especially at such a young age. May the comfort of God help you during this diffucult time. May you take comfort in the fact that there is one more Angel above us.
From Bernadette Sands (nee Meyer)

please express my condolences to Wayne and family, I've very happy memories of time spent with his family in Belgravia, she was so young?
From Gregory Meyer

Dear Aunty Beulah and Uncle Dolphy and family:
Our hearts and prayers go out to you all at this time. Our memories of a vibrant cousin who lived life to the full, will remain with us forever. Indeed it is hard to believe we won't see her again but rest assured that she is safe in the arms of Jesus.
United in the Covenant of Love we remain consoled that one day we will all meet again.
Gone but not forgotten...In His time...Till we meet again. RIP.
All our love, Noel, Alfreda, Stephen and Michaela x x x x

Rest in Peace Dear Friend. Till we meet again. Asa, Nadia & Nur

To all the de Smidt's and other family-I am so sad that Juanita is gone. What a vibrant, humorous and special woman. I am devastated that I did not get to see her again.

Juanita - God has called you home to a place of no suffering where you will be rejoicing with his angles. Uncle Dolph Aunty Beaulah and fam our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of sadness.
Anthony & Edwina Abrahams & Family Cape Town

To Juanita
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Gone but not forgotten from Nigel ,Sharon and kids,Vancouver.

Juanita,God has welcome you home.......Your memory will live on forever, my friend, will always have a special place in my heart.RIP.....Juanita

To Uncle Dolphi, Aunty Beaulah, Wayne, Anna-Marie and Paulita and Families,

Today we celebrate the life of a cousin well-loved and lived to the full. There was no doubt that Juanita enjoyed and appreciated life. Always smiling, always happy, always a kind word to adults and children alike and lots of compassion for old people. She had a special place in her heart for our children Christal, Mark and Tamzyn and they will always remember her for the love she shared with them.We are going to miss her dearly. May her soul rest in peace and may the family be comforted by knowing that she is safe in the arms of Jesus.

Will love you always.

Juanita, I didn't get to spend much time with you. We grew up, shared joyful moments and my favourites were our times with Ma De Smidt, her brewed coffee (which we couldn't have 'cause we were too young...lol), her mosbolletjies and our visits to your Moms. Say hello to Ma ** big hugs* Wiill miss you, love you always.

To Rudolf, Buelah, Wayne, Anna Marie, Paulita and Family...

A great loss but we know that Juanita has gone home to be with our Lord. We remember her smile and laughter, and the joy we shared. I remember one photo of Juanita and myself, how we looked so alike, what a joy. Though you are miles away, know that we carry you in our hearts especially at this time. All our love, Veronica and Family

To Rudolph, Beulah, Anna-Maria, Jerome and the boys

Be conforted to know that Juanita is out of her suffering. She was indeed a great example to all of us. Thank you to all for your tireless care for her. God in his mercy knows best. We are sure she is smiling down upon you with gratitude. Yes, we all miss her, but she is with her Saviour.

Be strong, comfort one another with much love. Remember the good times you shared with her.

Regards and much love from Mervyn, Brenda and all the family in South Africa.

Juanita...........a beautiful soul gone but not forgotten.
Though you were far away, you were a very dear & close friend.

You left us with beautiful memories.

Sympathies to the family.

To the Family of Juanita De Smidt (Mr and Mrs De Smidt, Anna, Jerome and the Boys in NZ)

It is with great sadness and relief that we have been informed of the passing of Juanita. Sadness in the sense that we were not able to be there for you guys and her in her time of need.
Sadness for the pain that you are all suffering and especially Mr and Mrs De Smidt, for having to bear witness to a child going to meet her maker before they do. This is more often the most difficult for a parent to comprehend and we wish them strength and endurance during this difficult time of bereavement. Sadness, too for hearing the news of her so sudden illness and the speed at which it progressed to take control of her body and cause its ultimate demise.
Relief in a sense that she is no longer suffering at the hands of her condition, and she did suffer tremendous hardships, but she fought her battle with the courage we knew she had, with the tenacity we knew was part of her make- up and with the last bit of strength she had to try and overcome this personal hardship. We are proud of her that she fought so hard, but at the end of her battle, she did come to realise that she was to be part of a bigger plan, and she was finally called to rest by her maker, to do the great work that is envisaged for her.
Our Heavenly Father saw it fit to call her home as it was her time, and as we all know, we are placed on this earth for a purpose and that our time is not our own, for it is merely short lived and is at the discretion of our Lord and Saviour.
We wish to extend a word of thanks to all of you, as a family and one family in the name of God, for what have done for Juanita is her last stages of her life. For making her comfortable and her illness less unbearable. For making her realise that she was not fighting this battle alone and that your were her strength and support. You have done her proud and we are sure of that. No more you could not do.
Having heard of her passing and the befitting manner in which she was called HOME, we are appreciative of the fact that life is short, it can be taking away from you suddenly and that we need to appreciate each other, our time on earth, and enjoy the smaller and unobtrusive things in life. Our actions in life on earth, is the yardstick by which we will be measured when we are no longer here. Our legacy we leave behind is judged by not who we are, but by what we do, how we live and how we serve. Juanita has excelled in all of these and she will be forever remembered by these character traits.
Our stay in New Zealand was made pleasurable by our interactions with her. The laughter, joy, happy go lucky attitude, mischievousness and sometimes serious nature is something that we will fondly remember. She was kind to the core, always willing to extend a helping hand and offer advice where she could from a position of strength. She was always up for a challenge and ready for anything, the life of the party and the Jolly Roger at functions. This was her strongest attributes, and for this she will be remembered. Cape Town was definitely not a better place after she had decided to leave our shores and we are sure that there are Capetonians that missed her and still misses her to this day.
So to all of you in NZ, please accept our heartfelt condolences, and know that your pain is our pain, your loss is our loss and that you will always be in our prayers. Take comfort in the fact that she suffers no more; she is happy and smiling and is looking down upon us with a jealous smile because she did not have enough time to fulfil all that she wanted to here on earth.

To Mr and Mrs De Smidt, it is a heavy loss to bear, but time is a good healer. There will be days where questions will be asked, where assumptions will be made, where you will miss your daughter, but take solace in the fact that her maker had bigger plans for her. Be thankful that he allowed you to be there in her time of need and that you were there until the end. How fitting is that.
To Jerome, Anna and the boys. You are to be commended on the manner in which you stepped up to the plate and effected your duties in the most unselfish and uncompromising manner. We truly admire you as a family and will take a lead from your efforts.

Much love and always in our hearts, thoughts and prayers

Jacobs and De Vries families (Cape Town)

To.
Rudolph, Beulah, Anna-Maria, Jared & Alex


Our thoughts, prayers, sympathies & Love go out to you during this sad time of Juanita's passing. May God grant you strength, courage & blessings to carry on in her absence and may you be consoled that she will intercede for all of you, for all you sacrificed and did for her during her illness.
Juanita will be remembered as a loving and caring niece and cousin. Her kindness and generosity will always be remembered. Whenever there was a celebration or funeral service we could always call and depend on Nita for the leaflets that would be done with love and care.
She had a special love for old people and always went an extra mile to make them happy. We thank God and Our Lady for Nita's life and for all the Blessings she brought to her parents and family. We wish we could be there with you but pray that you be comforted by the Holy Spirit and assure you of our continued Prayers, Love & Support.
United with you in the Covenant of Love.


Ralph & Jean
Paul, Sonnia, Damian & Lauren
Bridget, Leah & Seth
Kevin.

Our deepest sympathy to all the family. There is joy in sadness, she is in a better place. You are all in our prayers. Lots of love from Robin, Melanie, Dale and Charne Paulsen Brisbane Australia

Juanita, my you rest in the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Your ever-smiley face and kind spirit will remain with us, always. We offer our prayers to the entire family.

Juanita, May You rest in the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Your ever-smiling face and kind spirit will remain with us always. We offer our prayers to the entire family.

Though there are no words to ease your pain, remember that Juanita is now in heaven, in Gods loving arms where she is at peace.
Our deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Trevor & Belinda Kippie (Brisbane, Australia)

To Juanita our niece and cousin.A kindhearted person always willing to help others.Will always keep the memoiries we shared in our hearts.Gone but not forgotten R.I.P.God bless Aunty Patsy + Karen

God has welcomed you home, and you are now in the fullness of Christ's presence. Rest in Peace Juanita, until we meet again.

Safe in the arms of the Lord and suffering no more. You will be missed. From the Albertyns, Auckland, New Zealand.

•God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around you and whispered "Come to Me." With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hardworking hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best. Our thoughts are with you the De Vries and De Schmidt families

•God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around you and whispered "Come to Me." With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hardworking hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.

Deepest sympathy to a wonderful family. You were such a rock for Juanita. Her laughter, humour and generosity toward me will never be forgotten. Thoughts and prayers to you all. Dearsley

Nita, thank you for being a part of all our lives. That smile and laugh will be sorely missed. Rest in peace.
Love you x

RIP Juanita
Funeral Service 19th June 2.00pm
St Thomas More Parish, Glenfield
Auckland

Our deepest condolences.
You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Chandni and Richard Steveni

Juanita ,Our dear friend pass away peacefully on the 14th June 2012.Gone but not forgotten . Till we meet again.Sadly missed by David ,Gloria & Family.

To the family: Take comfort in knowing that now you have a special guardian angel to watch over you.
Juanita will always live in our hearts and prayers.

May your hearts be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life of well lived by Juanita. Our prayers and thoughts are with all of you at time of sorrow.

Juanita de Smidt, daughter of Joseph (Rudolph, Dolphy) and Beulah de Smidt. Born 16 January 1964 and died 14 June 2012
We are united closely in Christ Jesus. It is a bond unbreakable.
Rest In Peace Until we meet again
Mum and Dad