Theodora Maria Anna Dorenbosch

Thea, our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, completed her journey on earth on February 11, 2025. 

She was born on October 24, 1942, in Emmen Drente, Netherlands, during World War II. She was the oldest daughter of Geert Klasens and Cornelia Cornelissen.

She is preceded in death by her first husband, John (Jan) Dorenbosch, her youngest son, Andrew Dorenbosch, her daughter, Anne Marie Dorenbosch Grenier, her second husband, Earl Abney, her daughter-in-law, Sheryl, her sister-in-law, Ans, her brother-in-law, Rien, her brother, Nico Klasens, and her parents, Geert and Cornelia Klasens. These loved ones were surely waiting to welcome her into heaven.

Survived by her children: Neal (Sheryl) Dorenbosch, Matthew (Angie) Dorenbosch, Paula (Bill) Davis, Gerald Dorenbosch, her loving son in law Dean (Anne) Grenier. Siblings: Henk (Sophie) Klasens, Anneke (Rien) Klasens, Corrie Klasens, Gerry (Jannie) Klasens and sister-in-law Ria (Nico) Klasens. She also leaves behind 25 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren, and we know that she will be guiding a new soul to earth, which would’ve been her first great great grandchild. 

As a young girl, she loved gymnastics and ice skating the canals in Holland. Later, as a young woman, she was in service to the Queen of the Netherlands. She shared a full life with her younger siblings and often spoke lovingly about them and about the memories she had. She carried these relationships throughout her life and was so excited to be able to see their faces when Facebook started offering video calls. It sure did make her smile. 

Thea and Jan married on November 9, 1962, in Utrecht, Netherlands. They took a literal leap of faith and immigrated to the USA in May of 1963. They married in the Salt Lake Temple in December 1964. 

Thea found fulfillment in providing family therapy and serving her clients, who were all special to her, while Jan provided for his family with a career as a barber. During their marriage, they fostered 40 children. Jan died at the age of 66 years in 2003 from pancreatic cancer. Thea remarried three years later to Earl Abney. They often traveled in their motorhome and loved to visit family in their travels. The ocean was their favorite place to be. Earl passed away in 2019 at age 83.

Faith in the Savior remained a constant center to Thea’s life. She enjoyed a wonderful relationship with so many friends in the church. She carried on loving relationships with friends throughout the years, and she had many. She was dedicated in her temple work and unwavering in her love for the church. It brought so much joy for Thea to sing with her church choir, and she never missed an opportunity to share that gift. 

It goes without saying that she will be so dearly missed by everyone in her life. Such a bright light in the darkness. Her positivity and love will remain with all she shared herself with. 

Funeral services will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, March 8, 2025. A viewing will be held prior to services from 9:00-9:45am at the Dixie Downs LDS Chapel located at 1184 N Dixie Downs Rd. St George, UT 84770. Interment will be at the St. George City Cemetery in St. George, UT 84770 following the funeral services.

Funeral services may be viewed by clicking the livestream below.