Teuntje M. VanHilst-Kozubski
Wednesday, March 21, 1923
Date of Death:
Friday, July 17, 2020
Age:
97 years old
Visitation
Date: Wednesday August 12, 2020
Time: 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Memorial Service
Date: Wednesday August 12, 2020
Time: 3:30 pm
Location: River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home [ view map ]
Wednesday, March 21, 1923
Date of Death:
Friday, July 17, 2020
Age:
97 years old
Wednesday, March 21, 1923
Date of Death:
Friday, July 17, 2020
Age:
97 years old
Teuntje M. VanHilst-Kozubski
Teuntje Maria VanHilst, 97, of Rochester, MN, died Friday 17 July 2020 at Charter House in Rochester.
Tina was born 21 March 1923 in Zuilen, the Netherlands, to Jacob and Maria (Brands) van Piggelen. A Registered Nurse for 34 years, she grew up in Utrecht, the Netherlands, during World War II and was a member of the Dutch Army Nursing Corps from 1947 to 1951. In 1956 she immigrated to the U.S. and settled in Minneapolis where she met and married her first husband, Kazimierz Kozubski, and where her two sons, Jan and Andre, were born. In 1961, with her family, she moved back to the Netherlands. Following the death of Kazimierz in 1972, she and her sons moved to Poland in 1975. In 1979, once her sons had finished high school, she moved back to Minnesota. There she reconnected with Lucas VanHilst, whom she had first met in Amsterdam in 1940. They were married in 1985. After some additional moves and travel, she and Lucas settled in Rochester in 1997.
Tina was involved in volunteer work, especially hospice care in Minnesota, Arizona, and Austria, gave to charity, cared about the environment (she was instrumental in starting a recycling program in Cottonwood, AZ), and liked to draw, do counted cross stitch, and knit.
She is survived by her brother Gerrit and sister-in-law Jellie van Piggelen; her two sons, Jan Kozubski and wife Susan, and Andre van Piggelen; grandson Brandon Kozubski and wife Katie, and great-granddaughters Ilah and Indy; stepdaughter Anke (VanHilst) Gray and stepson Michael Van Hilst. She was preceded in death by her first husband Kazimierz, her second husband Lucas, and two sisters, Boukje and Riet.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, August 12 at the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home, 1105 12th St SE, Rochester, MN 55904. A visitation will be held at 3 p.m. on the 12th followed by a short memorial service at 3:30 p.m. Interment is by invitation only at the First Unitarian Universalist Church in Rochester, immediately following the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to Seasons Hospice, 1696 Greenview Drive SW; Rochester, MN 55902
Condolences
The family of Teuntje M. VanHilst-Kozubski has received the following condolences.
To Tina's family, I send you my warmest condolences at the passing of Tina. I first met Tina at the caregivers group at the Unitarian Universalist Church back in the early 2000's. And since, I would spot Tina at Charter House,...the last time was at a Trombones Anonymous concert, where I again saw the twinkle in her eye and a spirited smile. That is how I will remember Tina. I hope your many memories of her will in time comfort you.
Margritt Rodriguez
To all the VanHilst and Kozubski Families,
Please accept my deepest sympathies and condolences. Words cannot easily express my sadness upon learning of Tina’s passing.
Tina will always be remembered with a sense of deep respect and an ever deeper appreciation of and for her amazing life. She represented the very best life can offer, especially so considering the unimaginable challenges and difficulties she faced during the horrific times and conditions of World War II. Her indomitable and tenacious spirit remains as a testament to her family. I'm all the richer for having known her.
With sincerest regards,
Bill Zornes