Maria Wijnanda Petronella Oosterwijk VanderVeldt
July 7, 1931 – July 11, 2026

Maria, beloved mother, Oma, Over-Oma and friend, passed away peacefully at her home in Eureka on July 11, 2026, at the age of 95, surrounded by her loving daughters.

Born on July 7, 1931, in The Netherlands, Maria lived a life defined by faith, kindness, resilience and unwavering devotion to those she loved. On January 24, 1956, she married the love of her life, Cornelis “Neal” VanderVeldt, in Bovenkerk, The Netherlands. A mere three days later, they set sail from their homeland to make a new life in the United States, where both eventually obtained citizenship. From Minnesota to Oregon and then to California, they built a life together centered on faith, family, hard work and love, creating a foundation for their five daughters to find success.

Over the course of her remarkable 95 years, Maria witnessed extraordinary changes in the world — from an era of handwritten letters, ocean voyages and simple household conveniences to one shaped by instant communication, advanced technology and an increasingly connected global community. Yet she never allowed change to leave her behind. With curiosity, determination and a wonderful willingness to learn, she successfully navigated social media, kept in touch with loved ones overseas and across the country through Skype and Facebook, used an iPad with confidence, embraced high-tech gadgets in her home, and even took on the challenge of learning Spanish. Her adaptability reflected both her intelligence and her enduring enthusiasm for life, allowing her to remain engaged, independent and connected across generations.

Maria found joy in the simple blessings of life — a home where family was always welcome; coffee and tea time with family, friends and anyone else who happened to stop by; quiet moments of prayer; traveling around the country in a camper; baking bread; and cheering on the athletic pursuits of Olympic athletes or cyclists on the Tour de France. She could sew, dance and dish out pithy aphorisms that didn’t always have the smoothest translation from Dutch to English. She found joy in the beauty of nature – whether in the summers spent in the company of family camping at Trinity Lake, finding appreciation in the flowers and plants around her neighborhood, or the simple delight of fresh vegetables from a friend’s garden. She also dedicated countless hours giving back to her church and local schools; notably she is remembered for her handmade pinecone wreaths for the Worthington Carnivals.

Maria is survived by her loving daughters Sophia Ustick, MaryLou (Don) Quick, Theresa (Tim McGaw) VanderVeldt and Victoria (Mike) Dowd; grandchildren Riev Ustick, Casey (Adriane) Ustick, Brenna Ustick, Cara (KJ) Johnson, Veronica (Jason) McCullough, Liesl (Andrew) Shakespeare, Jon (Allison) Quick, Daniel Quick, Donnie (Sarah) Quick, Kelly (Gary) Champagne, Ryan McGaw, Colin McGaw, Delaney Dowd and Brandon Dowd, 19 great-grandchildren, extended family members and many dear friends who will forever treasure the memories they shared with her. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Neal; daughter and son-in-law Erica and Alan Mills, parents Maria (Helsloot) and Bernardes Oosterwijk; brothers Gerard, Ben, Jan, Ad and Piet; sisters Lena and Corrie, great-grandson Noah Shakespeare; and many cherished family members who welcomed her into eternal rest.

The family finds comfort in knowing that Maria’s earthly journey has ended and that she now rests in the peace and presence of the Lord. Though she will be deeply missed, her legacy of love, compassion and faith will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew her.

A funeral mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at 10 a.m. A celebration of life will follow where family and friends can gather to honor her memory, share stories and give thanks for the remarkable gift of her 95 years. The family would like to thank Hospice of Humboldt, Sacred Heart Church and all the friends and neighbors for their support, meals and visits during the last months of her life.