Kian Nio (Gerda) van Loveren
October 28, 1931 – June 16, 2018
86 years, Five Children, Three Continents
Gerda van Loveren died peacefully, with her family by her side, on Saturday, June 16. She was 86. Gerda led a full and amazing life that included surviving a wartime occupation of her birth country of Indonesia, emigration to first the Netherlands and then the United States, the celebration of the birth of five children and a marriage of 57 years.
Gerda was quiet, loyal and steadfast. Not a vocal leader, but an enthusiastic partner, she was willing to take a risk, try something new and braved life’s challenges with grace. She expressed her love of others through the language of food. She and her husband, Harmon (Harry) van Loveren arrived in the US in 1957 with two boys, two suitcases and $200. With sponsorship from the Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati and the very giving John Robers’ family, they settled in Fairfield, OH, where they built a business and a family.
Gerda enjoyed being surrounded by people and being social. But she was also happy to focus on her knitting, and happily crafted prayer blankets for infants of friends and relatives. Family dinners often became events in themselves, highlighted by a mix of traditional Dutch and Indonesian specialties. For Gerda it was about being surrounded by the people she loved.
Gerda is survived by three children, Harry van Loveren, Sylvia A. van Loveren (nee Hollow) and Debbie van Loveren - Barthelmas, twelve grandchildren and 15 Great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Harry van Loveren and two children, Nicholas D. van Loveren and their infant daughter Sylvia Juanita van Loveren and her sister, Hetty Frieling.
Visitation will take place at St. Maximillian Kolbe Church 5720 Hamilton Mason Rd., Liberty Twp., Wednesday from 5pm until Mass of Christian Burial at 7pm.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Maximilian Kolbe.