Gertrude "Trudy" Van Bergen

Gertrude "Trudy" Bex van Bergen, 97, formerly of Statesville, passed away Monday, December 11, 2017. She was born on May 30, 1920 in Maastricht, Netherlands to the late Joseph and Anna Maria Gense Bex. Trudy was married to Frans G. van Bergen on October 9, 1946 and they shared over 42 years of marriage before his passing on June 15, 1989. She was a homemaker and helped her husband with his artwork. Trudy was very instrumental in the establishment of the Iredell Arts and Science Museum and was a talented artist in her own right. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who will be greatly missed. The van Bergen family said their last goodbyes to this beautiful woman who they called Mom, Oma, mother-in-law, and friend. Trudy lived all of her 97 years very well. Along with her parents and husband, Frans, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Betty Coyle and Marie Jose' Bex; and one brother, Marcel Bex. Left to cherish her memory are two daughters, Anna Maria Troutman (Bill) and Stella York (Brant); one son, Joseph van Bergen (Jan); four grandchildren, Melanie Troutman-Williams (Andy), Heather Blaine (Jon), Macey Thomas (Nolan), and Ryan York; and four great grandchildren, William Blaine, Mary Anna Blaine, Sawyer Thomas, and Brigsby Thomas. A graveside service will be held 11:00 am Saturday, December 16, 2017 at Oakwood Cemetery. The family will speak with friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Iredell Arts Council, 203 S. Meeting Street, Statesville, NC. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com and Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Trudy van Bergen.