Thanks for such a wonderful website home page with the photos, candles and wonderfully crafted obituary of Aunt Bertha. I noticed that she has a middle initial "G" and am wondering what it stands for. I have no memory as to what her middle name is. Thanks too for mentioning her sister Margaret Gunnink (my mother) in her life's story. In the past days a scripture verse has kept popping in my mind. It is the one my mother always said that when their mother Minnie ( our grandmother) died, this verse was special and I believe read at her funeral. I think it is from the 116th Psalm, "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints". I believe it is again most appropriate. I can't remember now if it was spoken at my mother's funeral almost 18 years ago now. As I sang at a local church for a noon Good Friday service today, I thought of both my mother and Aunt Bertha throughout the solo and want you, her family, to know that it was sung in their memory. At this time of Good Friday afternoon I wish I was with all of you and especially this evening when you will all be together sharing more stories of the Hofkamps, Mouws and Gunnink's. I thought of one today which we did not cover when we were there two and a half months ago for that 100th birthday extravaganza. I'll try to remember to share that on the phone calls sometime later. You and I know that the Hofkamp girls were referred to as "paper dolls" which maybe some of those photos you have attest to that. However, they really became women who were totally unlike anything similar to "paper". I think of them as being sturdy, strong, indestructible and often not very flexible or bendable. One of the memories of Aunt Bertha is of her "quotes" whether they were authentic or not. One I thought of today was ".... your sins will find you out." When we took the Mukilteo Ferry back to Seattle in January, I picked up a oatmeal raisin cooky along with a cup of coffee (of course) on the ferry. The package the cooky was in had several quotations printed on it. I tucked it in my purse and had sent one of them to Aunt Bertha as I could just hear her repeating it to someone. It goes like this " You are what you are when no one is looking". I had another one ready to send her which would have brought out her great laugh. So here goes Aunt Bertha --"Never eat more than you can lift". That was a quote from Miss Piggy. I remember her being quite cautious with her diet and "going easy" with the fat. But Oh, how she loved her "sugary sweets". I will miss the staying in touch with her by sending in the US Mail all sorts of "stuff" which I am sure she wondered what it was all about at times. She not only was a great lady, but a special aunt. Wish she had taught me how to play cards. My mom did not care for the dutch almond goodies, but I enjoy them. So I must have inherited that from Aunt Bertha, as I did not grow up eating that "flavor". It's time to close this time of "I remember" because it's time for me to leave for my commitment to the church choir. Both mom and Aunt Bertha would understand. We'll be with you tomorrow as you commit,honor,remember and worship. Myra Faye