Kornelia Petronella Benjert "Connie"  

Lieve Con, dankjewel voor alle mooie gesprekken die we mochten hebben.
W'll meet again!

I met Connie for the first time when she came to Amarillo, Texas for my daughter, Kelly, and her son, Wilco's wedding. She was such a joy to be around! Even though we only had days to get to know each other, It felt like we were immediate friends! I also learned how talented she was when she played the accordion along with the band at the reception. As evidenced by one of the pictures in the gallery, she and the band had so much fun! This will always be one of my favorite memories with her!

Connie was loved by my parents, Kelly's Nanny and Pop, and I know that they were there in Heaven to greet her with open arms. I regret that, due to distance and time, my visits and correspondence with Connie were few and that I never got to come visit her in her beloved Netherlands. However, I know that I will see her again. See you on the other side, Connie!

In memoriam, ik denk aan Conny aan de lieve verzorgde vrouw die altijd vriendelijk was. Wanneer ze met de kerst bij ons kwam eten, samen met John (haar grote liefde) en Wilco was dat heel gezellig en fijn. De meeste kinderen vierden thuis onder de kerstboom, maar die van ons gingen voetballen inclusief de hond Boomer en de twee meiden Wendy en Manon. Wanneer wij Conny ontmoeten in de stad Vlaardingen samen met John, was het ook altijd vriendelijkheid. En Conny en John zagen er altijd uit om door een ringetje te halen.
De vriendschap die is ontstaan bij SVV Schiedam tussen Niels en Wilco is fantastisch, ook om weer te zien tijdens de begrafenis hoe ze elkaar aan voelen. Voor altijd vrienden.

Kortom een fijn en mooi mens is heengegaan, maar de herinnering blijft.

In memoriam, I think of Conny, the sweet, well-groomed woman who was always friendly. When she came to eat with us at Christmas, together with John (her great love) and Wilco, it was very cozy and nice. Most of the kids celebrated at home under the Christmas tree, but ours went to play soccer including the dog Boomer and the two girls Wendy and Manon. When we meet Conny in the city of Vlaardingen together with John, it was always kindness. And Conny and John always looked like they were going through a ring.

The friendship that has developed at SVV Schiedam between Niels and Wilco is fantastic, also to see how they feel each other during the funeral. Friends forever.

In short, a fine and beautiful person has passed away, but the memory remains.

Cisca Rooders-Fiers

Thank you, Wilco, for blessing me with a mother-in-love. From the moment I met Connie, she welcomed me into her family and quickly pronounced, "She looks Dutch." They say love is blind. In turn, from the moment she stepped foot in Amarillo, she became a beloved part of my family. It was then I realized her soul was a rare and beautiful blend of qualities just like my grandmother—both women were deeply loving, dignified, and always ready with a warm embrace. Though we lived continents apart, our times together and across FaceTime were rooted in love and lots of laughter.

I am endlessly grateful to Connie, not only for bringing my husband, the father of my babies, into this world but for teaching him what love, compassion, and loyalty truly mean. It is because of her that he embodies these qualities so deeply, and I see her influence in his faith and the way he deeply serves and loves our family.

I often found myself watching Connie as she listened to Wilco tell stories. She’d hang on every word, her eyes sparkling with pride. To her, everything Wilco said was either profound or hysterical. He was her ever-doted-on baby, and she was his first true love, and let’s be honest, he could do no wrong in her eyes. But then with her grandchildren, it was a whole different ball game. The love and light in her eyes when she was with them? Unmatched. It was like she’d hit the jackpot, and her heart couldn’t contain all the joy. She was very proud of their accomplishments, but more than anything, you could see her delight in simply watching them play, explore, and express their unique personalities.

Connie, I would give anything to have just one more “cuppa coffee” with you, always with two cookies (our secret little rebellion). I will deeply miss you in this lifetime, but I will be forever grateful for your impact on my life. I know you walk free from pain and full of joy. I know at Heaven's gates, you had so many to greet you, but I have no doubt Nanny was waiting eagerly for a hug, and Pop was ready to give you the grand tour.

I’ve embraced a teaching from indigenous cultures I read: memories are spoken of in the past tense, but love and connection are eternal, never confined by time and space. Though Connie is no longer physically with us, her love remains as strong as ever, woven into the very fabric of our lives. Her memory will always hold a special place in my heart, and her legacy of love will live on in all of us.

Rust zacht lieve zus