Sara Charlotte van der Sloot
Sara Charlotte van der Sloot, 95, of Martinsville, VA passed away on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at King’s Grant Retirement Community. She was born on March 7, 1928, in Bogor, Indonesia to the late Nicolas George Oscar van der Sloot and Sara Charlotte Saimah van der Sloot. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Jack Heerick, granddaughter, Christina Ann Heerick, and grandson, Charles Henry Gauss, brother, Alphonse van der Sloot (Henriette), sisters, Anna Cornelia van Laer (Steven), and Margo van der Kuip.
Surviving are her children, Glenn van den Heerik, Linda Heerick Rachner (Tom), David Heerick, Sr., Sharon Cameron (Kent), Tina Sharpe (Pat), Dori Strother-Bradshaw, Leo Heerick (Dana), Francien Winters, and Johanna Wilk; brothers, Nick van der Sloot (Pat), Adriaan van der Sloot; sisters, Nell Bosman (Frank), Jeanette Bos (Gerrit) and Erica DeVries; grandchildren, Miles Rachner, Collin Rachner (Thea), David Heerick, Jr., Janine Heerick, Joshua Torrez (Erin), Jordan Torrez, McBryde Cameron, Kurt Strother, Noah Strother, Kendall Bradshaw, Parker Bradshaw, Sydney Heerick, Ava Heerick, and Francien Scott (Jerry), many nieces and nephews, as well as several great-grandchildren.
Sara was born and raised in Indonesia, where her father worked for the Dutch government, teaching the native Indonesians agricultural techniques, while her mother cared for the family. Their peaceful way of life ended abruptly when the Japanese invaded Indonesia on March 8th of 1942. Sara was separated from her siblings, and they were all placed with foster families. She became part of the Ubben’s family during that time, and was considered the older sister of Bill, Leonard, Tineke, Gwendolyn, Johanna and Marja. When the war ended on August 15, 1945, she was reunited with her biological family, and continued a close relationship with the Ubben’s family. After the war, Sara and her family moved to Holland where she later became a registered nurse. After marrying, Sara emigrated to the United States, where she began her family. Sara retired from Durham Regional Hospital after twenty-five years, as a Ekg Tech.
Sara brought Joy, Love and Laughter to all. She touched many lives and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her. Through all her life, she believed God was her only reason she was here. Especially through the war. She was the epitome of this scripture, Mark 12:30-31, 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”.
A celebration of life will be held at King’s Grant Retirement Community at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 3, 2024, refreshments to follow. Chaplain Paul Johnson officiating.
The family would like to express their gratitude for the special care given by the King’s Grant Staff and Mountain Valley Hospice.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Fellowship Fund at Kings Grant, or Mountain Valley Hospice.
Norris Funeral Services, Inc. and Crematory, Martinsville, VA is serving the van der Sloot family.
