Wilhelmina (Billie) Straatsma Phinney, 90, of Georgetown passed away Jan. 24 at her residence.
Billie’s father, Eeltje Teake “Peter” Straatsma and mother, Wilhelmina Frederika Geldmaker emigrated from Holland and entered the United States through Ellis Island, N.Y. at ages 22 and 19, respectively. They married and moved to Elizabeth, N.J. Wilhelmina was their second child, born on June 17, 1917, in Roselle Park, N.J. Her mother died during her childbirth. From age four and a half, Billie and her brother, Theodore, lived with two other families with her father s support. Her brother, Theodore, was a year and a half older and died of a ruptured appendix at age 14.
Billie graduated from Orange Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. She married her classmate s brother, Bob Phinney, on Dec. 31, 1938.
Bob’s parents moved to Maine after WWII. Billie and Bob moved to Arrowsic in 1954. In 1978, she retired after 20 years of work with Pine Tree Society for Crippled Children and Adults. During part of this period she was the administrator of the Hyde Home, headquarters for the Society. At age 76, she built her home at Indian Point seven feet off the ground.
Billie was the last surviving member of all of this Straatsma/Phinney generation, truly the Dutch Matriarch. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert E. Phinney, Sr. in 1989; and son, Peter B. Phinney of San Francisco in 1992.
She is survived by her daughter, Sandra Reed of Chalfont, Penn.; sons, Robert E. Phinney of Bridgetown, Nova Scotia and William T. Phinney of Wiscasset; grandchildren, Jesse Reed, Jodi Phinney, Tasha Phinney and Alexi Phinney; and great- grandchildren, Abbott Phinney and Callahan Phinney.
Celebration of the life of Wilhelmina Phinney 2 p.m., Sun., Feb. 10 at the Georgetown Community Center, 19 School House Rd., Georgetown.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Town of Georgetown, Georgetown Mall/Phinney Memory, P.O. Box 436, 50 Bay Point Rd., Georgetown, ME 04548.
