Martha Jacoba de Beer was born on 26.08.1925, the first of Chris and Maggie’s 8 children, to be born in Rhodesia. She grew up in Highlands, Salisbury.
She married Dawie Venter on 19 April 1947. They were blessed with 2 boys, Pieter Venter (16.06.1950 – 25.03.1956) and Chris Leon Venter (11.01.1954-13.06.1989).
The live broadcast stream will be available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=570Q_gM1G7Q
Dawie was affectionately known as Dave. He passed away 30.03.2000.
Dawie and Martha’s late son, Chris Leon Venter had 3 children with his wife, Gerrie (married 2 July, 1976):
Elzje (now Van Rooyen), Dawie and Esther.
5 Great grandchildren were privileged and honoured to know and love their special Nanna:
Petra and Reinhart (Elzje’s children) and Leon, Arlo and Lüia (Dawie’s children).
Martha passed away on 26. 04. 2024 on a peaceful Friday evening with some of her great grandchildren and grandchildren by her side.
A few weeks prior to her passing, she was rolling playdough snakes with her 2yr old great-granddaughter, whilst she played cards and rummikub with her teenage greatgrandsons…
She loved adventure and was deep in her 90’s when she made the last trip to Zim.
Zim trips mostly looked like this: flying from Cape Town to Durban, shuttle to Ramsgate and then roadtripping with Tookie & Tresa from Ramsgate via the Kruger Narional Park to Harare.
From nicking fruit from the then-Prime Minister’s grounds, (whilst expecting her 1st born), to breaking her ankle at age 83yrs when she played cricket with some children on the beach… her adventurous spirit and good sense of humour remained a source of joy and laughter to those around her, right to the end.
Between 2000 and 2013 she poured her time, love and expertise into the historically disadvantaged communities of Casa Blanca (with her dear and close friend Lynette) and Temperance Town.
At Casa Blanca feeding, loving and teaching young children.
At Temperance Town; offering sewing classes to empower women in the local community.
She loved her family fiercely and often shared beautiful memories from her childhood and youth. She touched hearts and lives as far as she went. She was a busy body in the most helpful and kind way. She would take the clothes off her own back to help another. She was selfless and genuine in her love and in her correction too.
She tried her best not to “inconvenience” anyone, often to her own detriment, but never with resentment or bitterness.
Your memories and tributes will help us to remember her even better, and we hope that in the sharing, her life will continue to inspire those who loved and adored her.
Thank you for sharing with us, she leaves a massive void and by hearing from her friends and family, we hope it will fill some of that void, and perhaps create or rekindle new or old connections.
Thank you.