By Aneeka Simonis
A PAKENHAM woman who served the community for more than 20 years has been remembered as selfless and warm-hearted.
Jo van der Velde, who co-owned and operated Pakenham Hills General Store on Army Road for the past 22 years, died last week at 78 years of age.
One of Jo’s two daughters Dianne said her mum was one of a kind.
“Jo was the lady at the milk bar who always had a smile on her face, was very friendly and always made time for a chat to the locals,” she said.
She moved to the Narre Warren area after migrating from Holland with her parents in her early years.
At 17, Jo walked 10 kilometres each day to get to work at the market gardens in Narre Warren.
All the money she earnt was given back to her parents who experienced financial struggle.
Jo married husband Bert in 1958, and had two children Sandra and Dianne in 1962 and 1965, respectively.
It wasn’t until 1994 when she met her life-time friend and business partner Vince Didio who shared a vision to build a milk bar and delicatessen at the Army Road site.
“With time and a lot of hard work and determination, they built a very successful business,” Dianne explained.
“Having also operated the canteen at the Pakenham Hills Primary School for four years when it first opened, has seen many of those children grown up, and with children of their own, are still coming in.”
After getting married, Jo and Bert built their house in Berwick and later moved to a property in Pakenham Upper where they lived for 18 years.
“She so loved working and pottering around on her hobby farm having had every animal imaginable and a large vegetable plot,” Dianne said.
“She was most giving in every aspect of life and always thinking of others before herself.”
She adored her three grandchildren: Daniel, James and Matthew.
Jo died on Tuesday 22 November.
Dianne said she will be forever missed.
Her funeral will be held at 10am on Wednesday 30 November at Pakenham Baptist Church, at 1 Bentley Court, Pakenham.
