Sylvia Nieuwsma, 83, passed away July 3, 2022, while being cared for at Hospice of Pella Comfort House. Funeral service was at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 8, at Covenant Reformed Church, Pella. Memorials may be given for the Bible League or Hospice of Pella Comfort House.
Sylvia (Fopma) Nieuwsma was the fifth child born to Simon and Jennie (Jansen) Fopma on Sept. 23, 1938. She attended Sully Christian School and graduated from Pella Christian High School in 1956. She was baptized and made profession of her faith at Sully Christian Reformed Church. Upon graduation, she attended Dordt College to receive a teaching degree. She was a teacher for Sully Christian School for 10 years. During that time, she met Henry R. Nieuwsma. They were married June 3, 1969, and she became a farm wife near Peoria. She was involved with Calvinettes Girls Club at Peoria Christian Reformed Church and affected the lives of many of her “girls.”
In 1996, they retired to Pella. She and Henry enjoyed traveling during their married lifetime. They traveled extensively in Europe, and their last trip was to the Panama Canal. They did volunteer work for Christian Reformed World Relief Committee in many locations. After Henry’s death, she became an active volunteer at Bibles For Missions Store in Pella, and she was a local coordinator for The Bible League for several years. Sylvia volunteered as the school librarian at Peoria Christian School for a number of years for which she received the Governor’s Volunteer Award. She also later volunteered in the library at Covenant Reformed Church.
Those left to cherish her memory are her sisters-in-law Theda Fopma, Wally Fopma, Margy Ann Fynaardt, and Frances Walraven; several nephews and nieces; and very good friends, Dennis and Donna Van Wyk of New Sharon and their families: Dacia and Dustin Prins and their children Troy, Mallory, Kyndsie, Sirene, MJ, and Jimi; Drew and Heidi Van Wyk and their children Hannah and Aleah; and Denae Van Wyk.
Sylvia was preceded in death by her husband Henry; her parents Simon and Jennie Fopma; her parents-in-law Rense and Anna Nieuwsma; her brothers Charles and Kathleen Fopma, Bernie Fopma, and Don Fopma; her sister Grace and Harold Beyer; brothers-in-law Gerald Nieuwsma, Kenneth Fynaardt, and Marvin Walraven.
At the time of her death, she was a member of Covenant Reformed Church in Pella. She enjoyed bowling, taking bus trips, volunteering, and she will be remembered as a “mentor” to many young girls.
