HAMMER - Jannetje (nee Kop) "Janny"_ Age 89, of Clarence Center, NY; entered into rest March 23, 2013; beloved wife of the late Jacobus Hammer; dear mother of Eveline (Jim) Hartz, Marjolein and Vincent (Alicia) Hammer; cherished grandmother of 11 and great-grandmother of four; loving sister of seven brothers and two sisters and treasured aunt to many nieces and nephews. Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service, Friday 10 AM, at the Buffalo and Erie Botanical Gardens. Flowers are gratefully declined. Donations may be made to the Botanical Gardens or Hospice Buffalo. Arrangements made by ERIE COUNTY CREMATION SERVICE, 824-6435. Please share your condolences at www.cfhecc.com

Jannetje "Janny" Hammer (nee Kop)

Janny Kop was born on August 23, 1923 in the Netherlands. She married her husband Jacob Hammer in 1952. Jannys first bout with Rheumatoid Arthritis occurred at age 23 after being hit by shrapnel during World War II. By age 35 she was in a wheelchair and never walked again. Her hands were deformed and she was in constant pain. In 1961, the family immigrated to the United States, more specifically, Clarence, New York, and remained there until 1974 when they returned to the Netherlands.

Janny always took an active part in the community and strove to make it accessible to all. She started by sitting in front of the inaccessible town hall when there was a public meeting and persuaded the elected officials to carry her up the stairs. She lobbied, successfully, to have all walkways and stores in her hometown made accessible. Janny founded a toy library; organized a taxi/bus service for those needing an accessible vehicle. She consulted for the KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines) to design accessible toilets in their airplanes. She belonged to national committees to promote independence for those with disabilities. She was instrumental in making the Dutch trains accessible for wheelchairs. Janny was awarded a Medal of Honor for all her accomplishments by the Mayor of Wassenaar.

In 1992, Janny and Jacob retired to Ithaca, NY. At the age of 69 she became a master gardener, a master composter, and a master landscape designer. She gave classes in vermiculture and participated in the many activities of the Cornell Cooperative Extension there. In 1998, Janny and Jacob moved back to Clarence, NY. Jacob passed away shortly thereafter. Janny joined not one but several garden clubs, two block clubs, volunteered at the botanical gardens, attended the master gardener meetings and entered plants in the Erie County Fair most years and always won prizes. Her garden and flowers were the love of her life in the last years. All from her wheelchair!

Where ever Janny was she inspired people. Her unwavering courage, her insistence on being independent in the face of whatever came her way set an incredible example of what a person can do, even without working legs, and with crooked hands and arms. Her inquisitiveness, her joy, her interest in everything and everyone around her never failed. She never considered a wheelchair to be a sign of infirmity. It was a means to an end, a different way from walking perhaps, but effective nonetheless.

A memorial service will be held at the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, (https://www.buffalogardens.com/), Friday, March 29, 2013 at 10:00 a.m.

RSVP: [email protected], 741-8815.
Flowers gratefully declined. Memorials may be made to the Botanical Gardens or Hospice Buffalo.
Arrangements made by: Erie County Cremation Service, (716) 824-6435.