[SOUNDCLIP] Nellie Street house greets its extraordinary owner

Jennifer “Stienie” Retief, resident of Nellie Street Krugersdorp West recently passed away and will forever be remembered as the owner of That house in Nellie Street.

Stienie’s three daughters, three grandchildren, family and friends bid her a final farewell during a beautiful ceremony while also remembering how she made her home a landmark in Krugersdorp.

On 7 April, 10am, a beautiful cloudy morning, Ds Jannie Pelser conducted Stienie’s cremation service at the Rant-en-Dal Community Church.

The 66-year-old passed away on Friday 28 March after 15 days in the Netcare Krugersdorp Hospital. Stienie sadly lost the battle against lung cancer after being diagnosed in October last year.

“Initially, she was admitted due to a fall that left her with a broken hip. After almost two weeks, following a good recovery, mom started to have seizures. We were told to prepare for the worst,” relates Christene Retief, Stienie’s daughter.

As the pallbearers walked in with the light brown coffin set on a stand covered with purple material, the front row of close family struggled to dry their eyes. The colourful arrangement of daisies bloomed atop Stienie’s final resting place.

“Emotions were never expressed by our mom, but you knew you were safe and loved. Everyone knew our Stienie and loved her dearly,” reads the greeting words of Christene, Sally van Loggenberg and Sharlene Retief, Stienie’s three daughters.

Ds Pelser read from scripture Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Christene, a spitting image of her mother, sat side by side with Sharlene, the eldest and Sally, the youngest. The three sisters remain, as the News experienced before, very close and very supportive.

As for the house, Stienie’s good friend of 36 years, Mary van der Merwe is to uphold and preserve the statuettes and gnomes as Stienie used to.

 The News greets one of Krugersdorp’s most loving and selfless motherly figures with a saddened heart, but we rejoice in the life she lived so fully. Stienie was truly, as so many of those who knew her will agree, a caring person who always helped those around her with open arms.

From the team here at the News, we offer the Retief family our deepest condolences, our thoughts are with you.