Obituary of Johan "Hans" Govaert

Johan (Hans) Govaert, 79, longtime resident of Peabody, died early Tuesday morning at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers following a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was the beloved husband of Elise (Smets) Govaert, adoring father of three sons and cherished “Opa” to eight grandchildren. He was the son of the late Alfred and Maria (van Bers) Govaert and born in Malang, Indonesia, where he lived the first 15 years of his life. He was educated in the Netherlands and in 1968 immigrated with his family to Peabody where he has lived for the past 45 years. Hans was last employed as an Engineer at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Center for Space Research. Those that knew Hans best will remember him as a gentle man with a welcoming smile and a heart of gold. Along with his wife Elise, Hans leaves behind his sons Fred Govaert of Manchester, NH, Roger and his wife Valerie Govaert of Peabody and Steven and his wife Eileen Govaert of Franklin Square, NY, his six brothers and sisters, Frits Govaert and his wife Doetie, George Govaert and his wife Mieke, Christ Govaert and his wife Ine Govaert, Berthe Govaert, Riet van Dorssen, and Rosemarie Govaert and her husband Peter van Hecke, all of the Netherlands, his beloved eight grandchildren, Madison, Serena, Kaelen, Riley, Reagan, Cormac, Casey, and Grady Govaert, and will be remembered by countless nieces, nephews, in-laws, friends and neighbors. His Funeral Service will be held on Thursday at 12:30 PM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday from 5:00 until 8:00 PM. Burial will be in PuritanLawnMemorial Park, Peabody. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Kaplan Family Hospice House, 78 Liberty St, Danvers, MA01923 or the Sanborn Place, Home Care & Day Services, 50 Bay State Road, Reading, MA 01867.