Beatrix "Bea" Clagg's Obituary
After a long fight with Alzheimer’s, Beatrix Irene “Bea” Clagg has passed on to better hands on April 23, 2016 in Tacoma, Washington.
Her journey began as the third child born to Ann and Ted Van Hecking Colenbrander in Bandung, Indonesia on January 28, 1940. The family moved to Gouda, Netherlands, when the Indonesian political attitude changed, and she spent her teen years there in Holland. Searching for more employment opportunities, the family, except for her sister Grace, who was married, came to the States and settled in Tacoma, WA around 1960.
Here she met her husband to be, James F. Clagg, and knowing a good thing when he saw it, they were married in 1961. Her mother, father and brother returned to Holland and the newlyweds set about housekeeping and starting a family. Bea thrived at being a homemaker, raising two children, thinking up projects for her husband, gardening and she loved to read and cook. She was a long time member of the First Baptist Church (now Urban Grace) and served on various boards and sang in the choir. She took pride in being one of the founders of the “Community Breakfast for the needy” that is still going on after twenty years.
Her appreciation for her early roots in the Indonesian life made a deep impression that stayed with her all through the years. A part of that expression was cooking Indonesian food for the family on special occasions. Holland also had a special place in her heart and while her mother, father, and sister have passed on, her brother, Edward, and seven nieces and nephews; Hari Kaur, Lynn, Imco, Mirjam, Tjeerd, Eddy, and Sonja, are still in Holland and survive her. Bea is survived in the U.S. by her husband James, son Mark, his wife Jodi, son Bradley, his wife Nora, and grandchildren Ukiah, Aslin, and Grace.
A memorial service for Bea will be held 12:00PM, Wednesday, May 4, 2016 in the Garden Chapel. A reception will follow in the Willow Room, Celebration of Life Center at Mountain View Funeral Home and Memorial Park; 4100 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood, 98499.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made online to the Alzheimer's Association at, alz.org
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