Person:Wilhelmina Parmentier (1)

BIOGRAPHY: Wilhelmina (or Mien) grew up in the unversity city of Leiden. The children in that family were very close. Their father, a self-made millionaire, was a very domineering family man; a real character. He started out going house to house with a hand cart, selling buttons and sewing notions. He ended up with a modern wool factory known throughout Holland and abroad. I don't think he did any weaving; he would buy wool, had it spun and dyed in many qualities and colors to suit the market of Dutch housewives who were good at knitting and mending, and did a lot of it.

BIOGRAPHY: Once the business did well, Johannes Hendrik Christoffel Parmentier bought a huge house close to the factory on a singel (canal). That's where his family grew up till they left home.

BIOGRAPHY: The girls in the family were encouraged to learn foreign languages and play music. In short, they were being raised as intellectuals in their time.

BIOGRAPHY: Mien was at home till she married Piet De Vries. Her beloved sister Han died in childbirth. (Ehlers-Danloss syndrome like grand-daughter Lenore?)

BIOGRAPHY: The Parmentier children turned out to be an eccentric lot. Mien was down to earth, though she had a natural good judgement of design, color and music. I think you could call her a modified aristocratic lady. She loved reading, was a very good cook, was interested in the world around her, and was a devout Christian. She often stayed home while Piet, her husband, was an extrovert who loved meeting people, dropping in here and ther, always up to date with the latest news.

BIOGRAPHY: Elisabeth Hietkamp, daughter 1994