Our mother was born on the 26th Dec 1933.  She was the 5th daughter of the late Piet and Sophie Oosthuizen who resided at 13 Shardy Street, Village Board. She was baptized in the Sidwell Congregational Church she attended Korsten Union Primary School then Paterson High School and attended Dower College.  She started her teaching career at Korsten Union Primary School.  She married Peter Thys van der Bergh in 1955.  She then taught at various schools in Port Elizabeth and the surrounding areas. 

We moved to Gelvandale in 1960.  In 1964 when St. Martin De Porres was built, she was actively involved in various church activities including Sunday School, FCC, CWL and as Coordinator of “Renew”.

Our father passed away on the 11th July 1968, and our youngest sister was born 3 days after his death.  Since then she was the sole provider for 7 children.

She became a permanent teacher at St. Theresa Primary School in 1969 until she retired because of ill health.

After she sold her house in Gelvandale, she moved to Kabega Park and attended Sacred Heart Church she then moved to Louis Dubb Old Age Home where she was actively involved in arranging outings for the elderly – sightseeing, bus trips to Namaqualand to view the flowers, sponsorship from Pick ‘n Pay in Hunters Retreat for coffee once a week.

Because of ill health, she moved to Cape Town and was actively involved in the CWL of St. Ninians Catholic Church.

“First and foremost we would like to thank God for sparing our mother for so many years and also to the family which shared her with us all.

Our mother  was a beautiful women, inside & out, prim and proper and always by the rule book. She always said she refused to be a burden for anyone, our mother was very independent. It was indeed a privilege to have her on our life path. Her gentle and caring nature did not deter her to say exactly what was needed, but she still treated each and everyone with the utmost respect irrespective of colour or age differences.

She moved back to PE and lived in the Malabar home where she was involved in various activities.  She worked with Fr. Joslyn in preparing the mass once a week – She was the mediator between the residents and management.  She organized a successful high tea for the Old Age Home before moving to her daughter and son in law where she passed away.