Sometime after 1900, Henri van Embden left his home of Herwen en Aerdt, The Netherlands, and made his way to Canada.
Somehow, he came to be in Sudbury, where he and his wife, Wilhelmina, raised their children. Henri died in 1969, outliving his wife by some 18 years. Wilhelmina (née Verbeek) was from Rheden, The Netherlands, and passed away in Sudbury in 1951.
For Marijke Kroft van Embden (Kroft), Henri’s niece, there is a black hole of information over part of her family that she would like to clear up.
“I am looking for the grandchildren of Henri because I am hoping they can tell me more about him,” Gerritse said.
Van Embden was born April 9, 1877, in Herwen en Aerdt, The Netherlands, and came to Canada in 1923. He married Wilhelmina in Canada, from what Kroft understands.
“His family did not know where he was living. He was searched for a long time. Now, a few months ago I saw where he is buried,” Kroft told Sudbury.com. “I should like to know how he lived in Canada. What kind of father and grandfather he was. It will be nice to have a pedigree. Not only the names, but also the stories from everyone.”
She’s curious what Henri and his children were like, and what their children and grandchildren are like, Kroft said.
“Some character traits you see again and again. Creativity. Professions. I know it already about many people, but about Henri, I know nearly nothing … . I think it will be wonderful to know the story of [the] family. Of course, It also will be nice to hear about his children,” Kroft said.
About the only thing she really knows about her uncle, Kroft said, is that he was a hunter. But she yearns to know more about him and the family she never had a chance to meet.
From what Kroft has managed to learn, the van Embdens had three sons and a daughter.
One son, Henri, died three days after his birth, she said. Reinder van Emden died in 2014 at age 87. You can read his obituary here. Jacob died in 2017 at age 88, and you can find his obituary here.
The couple’s last surviving child was Willie (Sutherland), who Kroft said passed away in 2020 at age 90. Sudbury.com was unable to locate her obituary.
“Thank you so much for trying to help me. I hope it will be successful,” Kroft said.
Born in Amsterdam, Kroft now lives in ‘s-Hertogenbosch where she works as a general practitioner.
“That is satisfying. You hear and see the stories of many people for years and years, how they deal with joy and sadness. You are involved with them,” she said. “So also the story of my family I am interested in. We are a close-knit family and that is nice. The family of Henri in Canada I should like to know.”
If you are a member of the local van Embden family and would like to make contact with Marijke Kroft van Embden or share information with her, you can send an email to Sudbury.com and we will forward all correspondence along. Send any info to [email protected].
