Eline Spanjaard nee Stein passed away at home in Port Saint Lucie, Florida, on 8 Aug 2014 at the age of 87. She leaves behind her daughter Yvonne Wendela Blom, son-in-law Richard Alan Blom, both of Port Saint Lucie; sister Lydia Lantain-Stein of the Netherlands; step-daughter, Anja Bass-Spanjaard, of Huizen the Netherlands; son Emil, of the Netherlands, grandson, James G. Blom and daughter-in-law Whitney Blom, of Teaneck New Jersey, grandsons, Jan G. Blom, of Brooklyn, New York, and Andrew D. Blom, of Jensen Beach, Florida; and great grandchildren, Benjamin Blom, age 5, and Isaac Blom, age 2, of Teaneck, New Jersey.

Eline Stein was born 9 June 1927 in Madioen, East Java, Indonesia to Peter and Aafke Stein. Along with all Indonesians of European ancestry trapped and unable to escape the 1942 invasion by Imperial Japan, she was subjected to hardship and extraordinary brutality in a Japanese concentration camp from 1942 until the end of World War Two in 1945. By strength of character, divine providence, and sheer tenacity she survived, though many of her family and closest friends were killed in the camps. Memories of this horrid experience never receded far from her consciousness, but nevertheless failed to defeat a zest for life that extended to the end of her days.

After liberation in 1945, she joined the Netherlands Army Women's Auxiliary Corp, serving honorably in Indonesia for several years. In 1954 Eline met and married Jan Spanjaard, a young Dutch Army officer highly decorated for his bravery fighting with the Dutch underground resistance during the Nazi occupation of Holland . Upon their marriage they resided in the Netherlands, Colonel Spanjaard continuing his distinguished army career and, together, raising their family and pursuing a long list of hobbies especially avid participation in organized tennis competition and youth training.

After retirement in 1974, Eline and Jan emigrated to the United States to join their daughter who had preceded them several years earlier. Eline known to her family as Oma (Dutch for grandmother) will be sorely missed by a grieving family and saddened friends. In respectful accordance with her wishes Eline's remains will be cremated under the direction of Treasure Coast Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory in Stuart, Florida..

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