Obituaries

It is with deep peace and great joy that we announce that our beloved mother,
grandmother, and great-grandmother Elisabeth Francina du Preez transitioned to her
eternal home on December 26, 2025, at the age of 91.

Born on April 11, 1934, in Bloemhof, South Africa, Elisabeth, affectionately known to
many as “Ouma Bets” lived a life filled with love, resilience, and an unwavering spirit.
She was the beloved daughter of Jacobus Christoffel and Anna Maria (Loots) Snyman.
She was preceded in death by her beloved parents; her four brothers, Fanie, Billie,
Pikkie and Jannie, as she fondly remembered them every day, and sister, Annerie; her
husband Willem Adriaan du Preez; her daughter Florence Julia (du Preez) Blom; and
her son Jacobus Christoffel du Preez. She is survived by her son, Pieter Johannes
Jacobus du Preez; her daughters Annamarie (du Preez) Gervais and Elizabeth
Francina (du Preez) Mielmann; and her 19 grandchildren and 29 great-
grandchildren—the youngest of whom was born just three days after she left this world.

Elisabeth and Willem were married on May 7, 1954, and together they established their
home on the du Preez family farm aptly named Soetverblyf, which translates to "a sweet
place to live", where they raised their five children.

Throughout her life, Elisabeth faced many challenges, including the heartbreak of losing
her young sister to a snake bite on the eve of her high school exams, which impacted
her deeply and spurred a spiritual journey which only concluded in the last couple of
years of her life at the cross of Jesus Christ, now and forever her Lord and Savior.

She had held secretarial and administrative/bookkeeping positions; volunteered as
secretary of her local Women’s Agricultural Union (VLU); served as the editor of the
local newspaper ("Die Riemlander", in the Reitz, Free State area); published short
stories in magazines and crafted a children’s story for radio; owned first a stationery
store and later a curio shop; worked as a retail clerk; and at some point, her
adventurous spirit led her to work as photographer serving a company that was taking
aerial photographs of farms in their area.

Elisabeth was an avid learner and a passionate advocate for the love of books, a
passion she instilled in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She owned
most of Ayn Rand’s books and was always encouraging others to think outside the box
and embrace knowledge. She overcame adversity with grace, never allowing heartache
or poverty to extinguish her love for life and adventure. Her wit and hopeful outlook on
life touched everyone around her. As she approached the end of her earthly journey,
those close to her were blessed to witness her deep peace and joyful anticipation of
what lay ahead, reassured by her trust in her Savior and the imminent reunion with her
loved ones who had gone before.

Elisabeth's memorial service will be held on February 8, 2026, at 2:00 PM, where family
and friends will gather to celebrate her remarkable life and legacy. In lieu of flowers,
those wishing to honor Elisabeth's memory are invited to contribute to her daughter
Annamarie's trip to South Africa to lay her ashes to rest. Donations can be coordinated
by contacting Annamarie at agervais2011@gmail.com.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who supported Elisabeth in her final days.
- First and foremost: God, who carried us all through every challenge.
- Our loving family both near and far for their steadfast prayers and practical support.
- Our dear friend Aqeelah for her loving help and companionship.
- Hope Hospice of New Braunfels for their excellent and compassionate care.
- Legends Funeral Home for their exceptional service and assistance with international
travel arrangements.
- Lifegate Church for hosting the memorial service.