Martha Vanderwey

RICHFIELD SPRINGS – Martha Vanderwey, age 90, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown.

She was born on Aprill 13, 1933 in Weidum, Netherlands one of 11 children to Henry and Theresa (Schaap) Systsema.  Martha was raised and educated in Holland.  The family immigrated to American where she had first worked as a nanny for Dr. Hill in Sussex, NJ.  It was there that she met her soulmate Donald Vanderwey.  They were united in marriage on June 3, 1953 in Sussex.  They shared a blessed union of 64 years until his passing on June 19, 2017.   They operated the Vanderwey Dairy Farm in Augusta, NJ until they retired in 1992.  Upon retirement they moved to Richfield Springs and owned and operated Aunt Martha's Bed and Breakfast in the town of Columbia.  Mrs. Vanderwey had a strong belief in God and was a member of the Trinity Christian Reformed Church, Richfield Springs.   Martha was well known for her fabulous baking.  While living in Sussex she would daily make 200 pies for the local fruit stand.  Most of the pies never made it to the stand.  She enjoyed baking but mostly she enjoyed the company of people around her.  Her smile and mannerism was contagious.  You always felt welcomed and cared for when she was near.  She will be truly missed.

Surviving are two daughters, Terri Visser and her husband Tom of Grand Rapids, MI, Martha Jane Miedema and her husband John Sherburne, six grandchildren , Jessica and Kendra Visser and her husband Greg Kucharek, Jonathan and Lisa Dawn (Andella) Miedema,Kristin and Austin Martin, Sarah and Scott Smith, Lisa and Brennan Alt.  twelve great-grandchildren,  six sisters Sonja Kuperus, Harriet Kuperus, Janet Kuperus, Evelyn Vandergroef, Casey Systsema and Sue Kotj, many nieces nephews, and cousins.  Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter Renee Brink.

The family will be present for a memorial service on Saturday June 10, at 12:30 in the Trinity Christian Reformed church with Pastor J. Fisher officiating.

Memorial donation may be made to the American Heart Assoc.  Envelopes will be available at the church service.

Funeral arrangements are with J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, Richfield Springs.