Jantje Boniface (25 Jan 1924 - 6 Jul 2017)

In loving memory of Jantje Boniface who sadly passed away on 6th July 2017
Jantje Bakker was born in January 1924 in Apeldoorn, Holland and lived with her Salvationist parents throughout that country’s war time occupation, often undertaking tasks with neighbouring families to secure the safety of others. Her father was in the newspaper business and her mother a re-known seamstress. Jan was an active corps cadet and in 1947 came to England and was accepted for the ‘Peacemakers’ Session at the International Training College in 1948 following a year learning English at the Bromley corps in South London.
It was at the college she first met John ‘Jack’ Boniface though with various appointments and family circumstances it wasn’t until 1956 that Jan and John married. There followed corps appointments together including Hexham, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Cowes (IoW), Raydon, Hatfield Peveril, Northampton Central, Rushden and Bristol Easton corps. John was appointed to National Headquarters in 1968 and was part of the Salvation Army’s readiness for decimalisation in the Finance Department. John was Promoted to Glory in December 1970 and now Jan and John are reunited in heaven after 47 years, along with Adrian who passed away in 2013.
Jan returned to Headquarters appointments whilst bringing up sons Adrian & Gerald and continued to serve at Croydon Citadel corps. There followed a number of appointments within the finance and literary departments though notably her appointment as National Secretary for the Association for the Handicapped was to commence a long connection both in active and retired life with this work. In 1984 Jan retired from active service in this appointment, and today these innovations in service for others, helped to form The Salvation Army Fellowship of Endeavour (SAFE). In retirement Jan continued to serve as an interpreter at International conferences and representing the Army’s work with Handicapped associations in Local and National government.
In the ensuing retirement years Jan spent more time with her sister-in-law Joy Brown and together they travelled far and wide including Jan attending The Passion Play at Oberammergau and together visiting Jan’s family in Holland.
For the past 26 years, Jan has been part of the ‘Alton Road’ Army community, where a loving experience of collective support for each other is recognised throughout the local neighbourhood and in recent years as poor health and daily care was required, this community provided both practical and spiritual support.
Following a short hospitalisation, Jan was Promoted to Glory on Thursday 6th July 2017 and her son Gerald with Miriam and grandchildren Luke and Hannah salute her, servant well done.