Tuesday, April 26, 2022
It is with my sincere condolences that I send this memory of Adrie, more appropriately Mrs. Van Duyvendyk as far as I am concerned. Our acquaintance centres on brief meetings in the work place at Dutch Growers. Unfortunately I had few other opportunities to get to know Mr. and Mrs. Van Duyvendyk more personally. However, I have had the privilege of working with their children and their families. Through them I feel a little closer to both Adrie and Arie.
One of the busy spring days at Dutch Growers I happen to pass by the a bench of geraniums where I saw Adrie instructing one of the new seasonal employees on the importance of deadheading the plants on the bench. I can see it in my head as if it had happened yesterday and I think of it often. Adrie in that moment, not only helped the new employee to understand the importance of attention to detail, also reminded me that it is the little things each of us do along the way that make big differences down the road. She was teaching by doing. Even when there seems to be not enough time in the day we still must give attention to the details.
Thank you both Mrs. and Mr. Van Duyvendyk for our brief times in the work environment, for sharing your family with me, and for reminding me that it is the little, achievable tasks and goals that are so important to look after through our hectic days. And to my friends, the Van Duyvendyk family, I hold you in my heart. Sincerely, Dan Mills.
