Margaret H Doelman

In loving memory of Margaret H. Doelman, age 29, as she passed away in Rochester WA on the morning of May 4, 2017. 

Margaret Doelman was born in Taipei, Taiwan, on January 26, 1988 with Congenital Heart Disease. At three months of age she arrived in the US, escorted by a doctor from Port Angeles.  She went from the airport to Children’s Hospital in Seattle where she received her first cardiac surgery the next morning. Five days later, Hank and Mary Doelman brought Margaret home to Rochester, WA.

Margaret has received various surgeries since that time, including open heart surgery. She has blossomed into a beautiful young woman, with strong convictions and a heart for the vulnerable and disadvantaged. During Middle School and High School, she tapped into her creative nature through drama, performing in plays. She was active in community events, such as Walk’n’Knock, the annual Swede Day parade in which she reigned as one of the court, and in the Miss Thurston County Pageant where she won the talent competition for a dramatic monologue.

Margaret had strong opinions and advocated for justice. Her unique sense of humor kept a perpetual smile on her face. Despite physical limitations, she refused to be a victim, choosing instead to take advantage of every opportunity to live life with gusto. Quality of life, independence, and deep genuine relationships were the things she valued most. This was especially evident in her profession as a nanny. Not only was she extremely good at working with the kids, her presence had an impact on the entire family. She became an integral part of each of her families and there was genuine love between them.

She developed a talent for photography, especially fashion photography for which she was published, as well as shooting weddings, graduation pictures, and family portraits. She created designer dresses out of paper, magazines, and black plastic garbage bags that were featured in some of her fashion shoots and used by other photographers.

But her greatest passion was travel, both domestic and international. Some of her adventures led her to New York, California, Canada, Hawaii, Peru, Thailand (where she rode on an elephant), Cambodia, England, Holland, Japan, and her home country Taiwan for which she has dual citizenship with the US. She also lobbied for better funding for Congenital Heart Disease at a convention in Washington, DC.

On May 4, 2017, Margaret lost her battle with cancer (an outgrowth of CHD). She took her final trip to a place far more magnificent than anything she experienced here on earth. In that special place she sees Jesus, her Savior, face to face. For the first time in her life, she is free of disease. She now has no pain, only joy and wholeness. We miss her and grieve the loss of such a vibrant young woman, but have the hope of Christ that we will see her again in glory.  

Margaret is preceded in death by her sister, Elizabeth. She is survived by 13 brothers (Gonzarelli, Dennis, Alex, Andy, Nick, Lucas, Michael, John, Lou, Willie, Jason, Dawit, and Feseha), 8 sisters (Luz Mary, Cynthia, Jessica, Julie, Nellie, Teresa, Maria, and Eyerusalem), 27 nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, and her grandmother, Augusta Nieuwsma. 

There will be a memorial service at 2:00 on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at the Olympia Christian Reformed Church located at 2121 Log Cabin Rd SE, Olympia, WA 98501.

Margaret told us that if anyone ever wanted to do something for her, they could donate to the University of WA Medical Center, where she received such loving care. In keeping with her wishes, in lieu of flowers or gifts, please donate to UWMC at http://www.acceleratemed.org/give/. May God bless your life and fill you with His joy. 

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