Geertruida “Trudy” van Hemmen of Tinton Falls passed away Feb. 21, 2026, at her son’s home in Fair Haven, surrounded by her family.
Trudy’s passing was the final chapter in a 94-year-long adventure marked by a passion for knowledge and a fearless defense and assistance of those less fortunate than her.
Trudy was born May 16, 1931, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. She was 9 when World War II arrived in her Jewish neighborhood in Amsterdam. Anne Frank and many other Jewish children were her playmates. During the war, she witnessed many outrages committed by people misguided by evil leaders. Very few of her playmates survived and, in the last months of the war, she suffered from advanced malnutrition.
This experience resulted in a lifelong commitment to the search for truth and rational analysis, and a dislike of shallow thinking and irrational decision-making.
After high school graduation, she embarked on a career in childcare and later in commerce. In 1955, she married Henk van Hemmen, her husband of 55 years. They had three children who were raised in her firm and rational, but gentle style, modeled after one of her heroes, Dr. Spock.
The kids were raised with continuous adventures, culminating in a family move to the United States, arriving three days before the Bicentennial. The family settled in Shrewsbury and despite having lived in a little piece of heaven in the Netherlands, were bewitched by the fun, friendliness, beauty and variety of Monmouth County, Trudy’s home for the next 50 years.
She obtained her associate degree from Brookdale, worked as a law firm administrator, was treasurer of the Shrewsbury Garden Club for many years, and volunteered as a tax advisor at the county library and Lunch Break. She supported and enjoyed the parks, the river and the beach, while still traveling to over 30 countries and taking many trips to the Netherlands.
When progressive myeloma resulted in a fractured hip, Trudy rationally and fearlessly decided that her life was complete and refused further medical care, passing away with Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD).
She is survived by her three children, Annemarie, Rik (married to Anne) and Pim (married to Jeanne Marie); five grandchildren, Hendrik (married to Shruti), Hannah, Abby, Helena and Kees; and two great-grandchildren, Mira and Sameer.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to organizations that focus on improving the lives of others, such as the Monmouth County Park System, Monmouth County SPCA, Seabrook Fund, and Lunch Break.
The article originally appeared in the February 26 – March 4, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
