Clazina (Pat) Oppelaar's Obituary
Clazina (Pat) Oppelaar was welcomed into the open arms of her Lord and Savior on Sunday, July 13, 2025 at the age of 98. Clazina was born in Passaic New Jersey on May 21, 1927. ‘Pat’ and her late husband, Samuel R. Oppelaar Sr., were married in 1946 at Hope Reformed Church in Clifton, NJ. She is survived by her four children: Kathleen R. Zuidema (Rick), Samuel R. Oppelaar Jr., Lt Col, USAF, Ret. (Alicia), Deborah A. McCord (Chris), and Kristin J. Carde (Scott). Affectionately known by family and friends as “Gramma Pat”, she is also survived by her 10 grandchildren: Steven Zuidema, Amy Bailey, Samuel R. Oppelaar III, Colonel, United States Space Force, Isaiah L. Oppelaar, Colonel (Select), United States Air Force, Sarah F. Dressler, Daniel G. Oppelaar, Lieutenant, United States Navy, Anna Giblin, Jessica McCord, Dalton Carde, and Ethan Carde. She is further survived by her 19 great grandchildren. Pat grew up in Northern New Jersey with her late parents, Louis and Anna Kuipers and late sister Wilma; with her life’s focus on her church and music. A talented self-taught singer and pianist, she has inspired generations of family and friends with her God-given gift of music, with the ability to play virtually any song, secular or religious, without any sheet music and with such veracity as caused listeners’ tears to flow. In recent years Gramma Pat cherished the blessings of being with family, especially the children who shared their love with her at every opportunity. Her impact on her entire family will endure for generations. Gramma Pat absolutely loved America, the freedoms we enjoy, and all of those who have served protecting them, both past and present, even in twilight’s last gleaming. Her transition from this life to that in Heaven was a peaceful answer to prayer as she went to join the heavenly choirs she spoke so often of, hearing them in the stillness of night. The family will receive friends from 10 – 11 AM on Friday, July 18, 2025 at the mausoleum chapel at Skyway Memorial Gardens. A remembrance ceremony honoring her life will be conducted following the visitation at 11 AM. Condolences may be made to the family at https://Skywaymemorial.com.
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