Lini Fonteyn Bennett ended her life's journey, as she wanted, at her home in Fallbrook CA.

Her journey began in Dutch owned Indonesia; she survived the horrors of the Holocaust while in that country and after the war returned to Holland.  She went to upper education in Holland and became a medical lab technologist while studying to become a Doctor.  She met her future American husband while vacationing in the South of France.  Brad and Lini were married and moved to California where his family resided.  Brad was in the Navy when they met and after returning to California he went into the teaching profession while remaining a reservist.

At his first teaching assignment their first daughter was born and Brad decided he liked the farm classes he taught. The next teaching assignment brought them to Covina Ca and two more daughters and a son arrived.

The next move found her able to start taking some classes to go back to the lab tech profession.  She had stayed home helping the children with homework, being a camp fire group leader, helped teach the children to drive, and saw Brad through his further education to get his Masters degree. So it was now her turn.  She graduated from Mt San Antonio College then went to Cal Poly Pomona.  She majored in Microbiology and graduated with honors. She was one smart cookie.  Since the children were all close to or in College she wanted to go back to work.  She thought every woman should be able to work and have her own income and meet new people.

She interned at the City of Hope for a year and then began her life long career as a medical lab technologist at County USC Medical center in the pediatrics ward.  She met some lifelong friends, and she belonged to the CA Medical Lab Tech Association until her passing. When she retired she was the head of the pediatrics lab and proceeded to move with her husband to the farm, as Brad called it, in Fallbrook CA.

Lini wanted to make new friends in her new town, and her friend Kathleen suggested she join AAUW, American Association of University Women.  They had some of her same ideals and beliefs that all women need an education, And Women needed to be able to stand up for themselves. She was a President and a two time treasurer; she went back to college to learn how to create the newsletter both in print and on line for the Fallbrook branch.  Always wanting to learn and keep up with the times.

Lini's brother, Guus, passed away in 2014 and his two sons were able to translate his diary from his time as a prisoner in World War II. In order to complete the book, Surviving the Burma/Death Railway, this included stories about Lini and her family and a chapter of her memories of her time in World War II. Her nephew, Simon and his wife, Petra came to visit and get facts from her for the book.  A few years later the book was completed and presented to the Sydney Australia Holocaust Museum. Shortly after the book was celebrated her other nephew, David, and his wife Venita were able to celebrate her last birthday with her and her family.

Lini will be missed by many including her four Children; Sandy, Teri, Maura, and Kevin, "step" Brother and his wife, Jacques and Fredy, Brother and Sister in Law, Jerry and Phoebe, Grandchildren: Elizabeth and Garrett, Nieces and Nephews. and her many good friends she has made throughout her journey.

I hope she will be able to meet with others who have passed and enjoy a good game of mahjongg and someone to help her out with the hard clues of a crossword puzzle.