Obituary of Ghislaine B. Van Everdingen

Ghislaine Louisa Maria Briegleb Van Everdingen, age 89, of Shelton, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 4, 2022. She was the widow of the late Jan Versloot. Born in Utrecht, The Netherlands, on August 22, 1933, she was the daughter of the late Cornelis Sonnega and Maria Briegleb Sonnega.

Ghislaine grew up in the Netherlands during WWII and in her early 20s immigrated to the United States. Falling in love with this country, she became a citizen in the 1950s. She returned to her home country to obtain her Doctorate Degree in Psychology at the Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht. Shortly thereafter she was recruited by Continental Airlines to create their first Employee Counseling Program. In addition, she had a private practice for many decades. She was fiercely independent, highly intelligent, with a thirst for knowledge and self-development. Ghislaine will be remembered as loving, kind, and funny, yet her Dutch bluntness could cut to the core as well. A spiritual woman, she paved her own way, writing many poems to express her journey. Her beliefs left an imprint on many, especially those closest to her. She instilled in all of us her love of nature, reading, creativity, and writing.

Ghislaine is predeceased by her brothers Auke Sonnega, Charles Sonnega and Nic Sonnega, her sisters Anna van Donge, Aafje Kellerman and Cornelia Neumann, and her grandson Fokko Versloot. She is survived by her children Lajla (Robert) Duffy of Myrtle Beach SC, Carola Van Everdingen Camillo of Shelton CT, Robert Camillo of Stratford CT, Leo (Hannah) Versloot of Z'eiland Heegermeer The Netherlands, Erik (Margreet) Versloot of Mechelen The Netherlands, Brenda (Jim) Bisciglia of Gig Harbor WA, as well as by her grandchildren Fay Grant, Kyle van Kleef, Mariah Van Kleef, Brian Duffy, Jeff Duffy, Nick Camillo, Sydni Marmor, Emma Versloot, Frederique Versloot, Jochem Versloot, Daan Versloot, Malou Versloot, Valentijn Versloot, Eva Versloot, Christophe Bisciglia, Stefan Bisciglia, Michela Bisciglia and Francesca Bisciglia, and many great grandchildren.

Ghislaine's family would like to thank all at Benchmark Senior Living at Splitrock where she received loving care for the past several years.

All funeral services were held privately.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Abriola Parkview Funeral Home 419 White Plains Rd, Trumbull.