Alberta Margaret "Bertie" Hengeveld

1924 - 2010

Alberta (Bertie) Margaret Hengeveld died on Sept. 6, 2010, after a four-year battle with cancer. Born in 1924 in Branchville, NJ, Bertie is the daughter of Emma Spoolstra Struck and Jacob Anthony Struck. She was raised in Branchville, NJ, graduating from Newton High School in 1941. In 1942, Bertie graduated from Paine Hall finishing school and worked as a doctor's Medical Assistant in Jersey City, NJ. In 1946, Bertie married her high school sweetheart, Loftus Hengeveld Jr., and focused her energies on his bookkeeping and raising the family.
Lofty's medical profession took Bertie from Newton and Hackensack, NJ, to Montgomery, AL, to Littleton Commons, MA, to Ho-Ho-Kus and Loveladies, NJ, and then to Greenville, NC. In 1993, Bertie and Lofty retired to Beverly Hills, FL, where she enjoyed an active life traveling, playing golf and cards. Bertie is pre-deceased by her husband in 1994. During the last 10 months of her life, she lived in Monson, MA, with her daughter, Tara Hengeveld and her husband Michael Benfield.
Bertie leaves behind three children: Tara Hengeveld and her husband Michael Benfield of Monson, MA; Cheri Reed and her husband Dan Reed of Arnold, MD; and Loftus Hengeveld III of North East, PA. Bertie also leaves five grandchildren. Her grace, generosity, humor and unconditional love will be missed by all.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 22, 2010, at the Fero Funeral Home in Beverly Hills. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to either Hospice of Citrus County or Quaboag Valley, both of which provided dedicated and loving care for her during her illness.