- Date Of Birth: July 14, 1944
- Date Of Death: June 18, 2021
- State: Colorado
It is with great sadness that the family of Gysbertha “Beppie” Antonia Van de Graaf (Poulissen) announces her passing at her home on Friday, June 18, 2021 at the age of 76. She was born on July 14, 1944, the third of six children to Anthonius and Gijsberta (Sitters) Poulissen, in Utrecht, Netherlands.
She is survived by her husband, Donald Van de Graaf. She is the much loved mother of two daughters, Monique (David) Fisser Miguel and Nicole Fisser of Highlands Ranch, CO, and cherished grandmother of three boys, Andrew, Braeden and Connor Miguel. She is also survived by her stepson’s Fabian, Jeffrey, and David Van de Graaf and their children. She is the beloved sister of Joke (Ruud) Claproth, Lida Poulissen, Ton Poulissen and Jos Poulissen of the Netherlands. She is preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Trudy Verhagen Maks and her grandson, Evan Fisser.
Beppie grew up and attended primary school in Utrecht and secondary school in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Beppie was very close to her three sisters as there was only six years between them, sharing a bedroom together until the age of twelve. Her sisters remember many evenings the sisters would stay up reading books together and Beppie would take joy in elaborating and embellishing the stories. During summers they would often go swimming at the pools of Utrecht and Amsterdam. Beppie, being her charismatic self, could always be found socializing, flirting, and having fun with new and old friends alike who also frequented the pool. The girls were amazed at her hula hoop abilities. She could swing three at a time; around her neck, her waist and her ankles, all while wearing a petticoat dress. In 1956, during the oil crisis, they would roller skate on the empty streets of Amsterdam with kids in the neighbourhood on Car Free Sundays. During the winter, they would go ice skating on wooden skates on the ditches between the cow pastures on the other side of the River Vecht.
As a little girl, she enjoyed gymnastics and ballet. She loved to relive her time at the famous ballet dancer Sonia Gaskell’s ballet studio in Amsterdam where she trained until she was fifteen.
Beppie and Auri had two beautiful daughters together: Monique and Nicole. She always dressed them in matching outfits, often making them herself. Beppie was always supportive and involved in her daughters lives and their numerous activities through their upbringing. Beppie would spend hours driving back and forth to gymnastic practices and competitions. When the girls were in high school, she would advocate for them often saying to her husband, “Auri, remember when we were their age? Let them have some fun.” She was their biggest fan. She was so proud and talked fondly of her children and grandchildren to anyone who would listen.
Beppie enjoyed going to bingo, league bowling, camping and boating with friends and family. She always had a passion for fashion, shopping, music, dancing, cooking and traveling.
While raising her daughters, she had many fun part-time jobs: Avon, Tupperware, Princess House, Dressbarn and selling furniture at Montgomery Wards and Lazyboy. She continued to work for Lazyboy in Colorado, retiring in 2010.
Donald and Beppie were married in California on April 29, 2000. This year they celebrated their 21st anniversary. After living most of their lives in California, Donald and Beppie moved to Colorado to be closer to her daughters and grandsons, settling down just two blocks from Monique and David.
Beppie had a warm magnetic personality. She was kind and friendly.
