Ma en Pa

Mathys Cornelis Leonard van de Ven- today known as Pa Len to his children - worked in SA air force as a Grade 1 radar technician. Thereafter, he became a instrument technician in Sasolburg, SA. In 1962 Pa Len applied for a radio telecommunication position on Marion Island (2600 miles from Cape Town). He had no contact with the outside world for a whole year.

Every year the crew changed. Serving on the ice-braker ship, 'Ice Bucket', in his second year, Pa Len was a witness of a misfortunate drowning accident. He then contacted the family over the radio where Ma Hes worked on the other side of the line. Ma Hes and her girlfriend Clara began writing to Pa Len and it worked out they were friends with Pa Len's sister Helen.

Pa Len and Ma Hes married in 1966.

Hester Maria van de Ven was born on 9 November 1941. Ma Hes (as she is called by all her children) has three sisters - Bettie (2 years younger then Ma Hes) and Rita (2 years older then Ma Hes). Their mother Babsie departed this life when Ma Hes was 3 years old. 5 years later Oupa Grootjie Jaapie (Ma Hes' father) married Margaretha Elizabeth v. Niekerk who had a son Andre, prior to this marriage. Together they had Helena. Ma Hes, Bettie, Rita and Helena grew close over the years. Margaretha Elizabeth passed away only 3 months before the birth of Corné.

After Margaretha Elizabeth v. Niekerk's death, Oupa Grootjie Jaapie married Christina Viviers. The family grew by 2 sons and one daughter.

Today, Ma Hes is a mother of 6 sons (Leon, Malan, Corné, Maritz, Andre and Werner) en 1 daughter (Marie); and a grandmother of two (Lian and Lara) Bettie had 3 children: Henk, Jaco and Elizna (from oldest to youngest) Rita had 5 children: Chris, Jaap, Bennie, Pieter, Babs ( from oldest to youngest)Helena had Keneth John (KJ) who is now acting in Clifornia. Helena's second marriage with Nigel increased number of children by 3: Paul, Garri, Terrin. She now lives in Dubai.
My Parents