Seamstress, quilter, wife, mother, entrepreneur
Albertine Veenstra of Bradenton and Holmes Beach, FL, formerly Acton, MA, passed in April 2025. Widow of Norman Richard Veenstra; mother of Norman A. Veenstra of Washington, D.C.; and stepmother to Pamela Veenstra, Marion McEttrick and Lester Veenstra. Born and raised in Luxembourg (EU), immigrated in 1961; eldest of five sisters in the Wilhelm family: Lucy, Gaby, Cecile, Anita. Albertine was an expert seamstress her entire life, trained in Brussels and sustained a sewing business throughout her working years, including teaching classes.
In her retirement years, Albertine devoted her skills to quilting, winning numerous awards and museum placements. For nearly two decades on Anna Maria Island, she ran Gloria Dei Church quilt-makers group, resulting in 100s of quilt donations through Lutheran Relief worldwide. Albertine's custom quilt of campus buildings still hangs at The Groton School. Volunteered as manager of Brooks School of Concord Thrift Shop, later opened her own consignment store in Acton.
Lifelong blood donor to American Red Cross. Donations in Albertine's memory may be made to the New England Quilt Museum of Lowell, www.neqm.org/give
