NETTIE VANDERPOL-SCHWARZ

VANDERPOL-SCHWARZ, Nettie Of Needham and Edgartown, MA, died peacefully in her sleep on December 28, 2022 at age 96. She was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and came to America at age 22 in 1948. She was the daughter of Aron "Dolf" Schwarz and Louisa Carolina Pop-Schwarz. Netty shared 66 years of happy marriage and partnership with her husband, Maurice Vanderpol, who predeceased her in 2014. She is survived by her son, Dolph Vanderpol and his wife, Anne Josephson, of Newton; and their two children, Emily and Sam; and by her daughter, Nikki Vanderpol and her husband, Joseph Russo of Waltham; and their two children, Alex and Julia. Netty is also survived by her brother, Benno H. Schwarz and his wife, Sue C. Schwarz of Child Okeford, in the United Kingdom, together with a number of very close nieces and nephews. She was a loving, nurturing and incredibly supportive wife, mother, grandmother, and sister. Notwithstanding her warm, charming, and accepting behavior, she was also an astute observer of human nature. In addition to serving in these roles, she was also an accomplished textile artist. She designed and created many embroideries and needlepoint canvases inspired by her own imagination but also by the works of Mondrian, Kandinsky, and Lewitt, among others. In her 50s, inspired in part by the writings of Elie Wiesel and her deeply felt need not to consign to history or the past the lessons of her terrible experiences during the second world war, she undertook a series of canvasses channeling what she witnessed and felt into a dozen or more stunning needlepoint canvases. These have been exhibited in museums and other venues throughout the U.S. and Western Europe. The creation of these canvases required her to face very painful and difficult memories. Netty cherished her 50+ years of time visiting and staying in her home on Martha's Vineyard, a place she referred to as that "Magical Island." Her time on the Vineyard provided her with peace of mind, fun, a new broad collection of friends and neighbors, and a place where the family often gathered together. Above and beyond accomplishments and personal history, Netty was a woman of character. She was gracious, charming, generous, fun-loving, and interested in the world and the people around her. She was always immaculately dressed and coifed, but still retained a common touch. Treating everyone in her life with equal respect and warmth, no matter how high or low their perceived standing in society may have been. No one was unworthy of her interest, regard, and warmth. Our world has been a better place for her time here among us and she will be missed. The family will hold an informal Memorial Service and reception on January 20, 2023, from 3:30-6:30 at a venue yet to be identified. For the location of the reception, more details about the arrangements and to share a memory or to offer a note of condolence, please visit www.eatonfuneralhomes.com In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to either the Boch Center - Suskind Fund, c/o Wang Theater for the Performing Arts, 270 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02216, or to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, AL 36104, or to a charity of your choice which you believe embodies the values that Netty held dear. Eaton Funeral Home 781-444-0201