21/02/2026
IN MEMORIAM SUSAN HOFSTEEDE / ER COF AM SUSAN HOFSTEEDE
(please scroll down for English)
Ar Fedi 29ain 2025, yn ddisymwth, collasom ein cydweithiwr a’n ffrind gwerthfawr iawn, Susan Hofsteede. Mae pawb yn Croeso Menai, ac yn enwedig yn Dyma Ni Befriending, yn hiraethu’n fawr ar ei hôl. Roedd hi wedi cefnogi achosion heddwch, tosturi a chyfiawnder ers blynyddoedd lawer gan gynnwys ffoaduriaid a cheiswyr lloches yng Nghaint a mannau eraill. Pan symudodd hi a’i gŵr, Frans, i Fangor yn 2012, elwodd yr achosion hynny’n fawr o’i chefnogaeth. Buodd yn gyfrifol am fentrau amgylcheddol a chymdeithasol, ynghŷd â heddwch a chyfiawnder i’r rhai oedd yn ffoi rhag erledigaeth, trais, newyn a pherygl.
Roedd gan Sue hefyd asbri at fywyd a meddai ar synnwyr digrifwch dwfn. Roedd hi’n gyfranogwr gwych yn y gweithgareddau a garai, yn ogystal â bod yn drefnydd penderfynol, dyfeisgar ac effeithiol.
Ar ôl cymryd rhan dawel ym mentrau cyntaf Croeso Menai i Noddi Cymunedol a chefnogaeth yn y gymdeithas i ffoaduriaid Wcráin, ymunodd â’r tîm bach a sefydlodd Dyma Ni Befriending pan ddechreuodd llywodraeth y DU wasgaru Ceiswyr Lloches o amgylch y wlad gan gynnwys Gwynedd a Môn. Roedd hi'n gydlynydd ymroddedig i’r fenter ac yn gyfrifol am y grantiau cychwynnol a gawsom. Mae’r rhain wedi helpu ein ffrindiau i ddod i adnabod yr ardal, cael mynediad i iaith hanfodol a dysgeidiaeth arall, negydu ein system gofal iechyd, gwneud gwaith gwirfoddol, canfod dillad angenrheidiol, beiciau ac eitemau hanfodol eraill ac elwa ar chwaraeon, gweithgareddau awyr agored a llawer mwy.
Roedd Sue yn garedig, yn llawn tosturi ac yn barod bob amser i fynd yr ail filltir pan oedd defnyddiwr y gwasanaeth yn cael anhawsterau. Cynhwysai bobl leol gyda sgiliau, adnoddau a thalentau i gynnal sesiynau creadigol mewn cerddoriaeth, symudiad, crefftau ac ati. Roedd hi'n cydnabod anghenion ac yn gweithio i'w diwallu. Gwerthfawrogwyd ei hymdrechion yn fawr gan y rhai a dderbyniodd y cymorth, gan ein tîm cyfan a phawb sy'n gweithio gyda ni. Dyma nifer fach o’r amryw sylwadau a wnaed gan ein ffrindiau:
“She was such a kind, wise, and generous lady who always supported our community and welcomed us with care and warmth. Her kindness touched us all, and she will be deeply missed.”
“She was such a kind person and a true example, and I’ll always remember her.”
“I’ll never forget Sue and her kindness that makes all this process easier to cope with, her support and understanding that gives us hope.”
“She was my best, she was a kind person, honesty and role model for all of us.”
Meddai Sue amynedd a goddefgarwch wrth i ni wynebu rhwystredigaethau, tra’n dal at ei hegwyddorion a’i hymrwymiad yr un pryd. Bydd ei hysbryd a’i hesiampl yn parhau i ysbrydoli ein gwaith.
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IN MEMORIAM SUSAN HOFSTEEDE
On 29th September 2025 we unexpectedly lost our greatly valued colleague and friend Susan Hofsteede.
All at Croeso Menai, and especially Dyma Ni Befriending, continue to miss her greatly. She had supported causes of peace, compassion and justice for many years, including refugees and asylum seekers in Kent and elsewhere. Her move, with her husband, Frans, to Bangor in 2012 resulted in huge benefit to the causes she supported here, including environmental and social initiatives, peace and justice and support for those who were fleeing from persecution, violence, hunger and danger.
Sue also had a great zest for life and sense of fun. A great participant in the activities she supported, as well as a determined, resourceful and effective organiser.
Having quietly participated in Croeso Menai’s first ventures into Community Sponsorship and social support for refugees from Ukraine, she willingly joined the small team who set up Dyma Ni Befriending when the UK government began dispersing Asylum Seekers around the country, including to Gwynedd and Anglesey. She was a committed coordinator of the initiative and responsible for the initial grants we received, which have helped our friends get to know the area, access essential language and other learning, negotiate our healthcare system, carry out voluntary work, acquire necessary clothes, bicycles and other essential items and benefit from sport, outdoor activities and much more.
Sue was unfailingly kind, compassionate and always ready to go the extra mile for a distressed service user with a difficulty. She brought in local people with skills, resources and talents to run creative sessions in music, movement, crafts etc. She recognised needs and worked to meet them. The efforts she made were hugely appreciated by those she helped, our whole team and all who work with us. Here are just a few of the many comments from our friends:
“She was such a kind, wise, and generous lady who always supported our community and welcomed us with care and warmth. Her kindness touched us all, and she will be deeply missed.”
“She was such a kind person and a true example, and I’ll always remember her.”
“I’ll never forget Sue and her kindness that makes all this process easier to cope with, her support and understanding that gives us hope.”
“She was my best, she was a kind person, honesty and role model for all of us.”
Sue exercised patience and tolerance at the frustrations we encounter, while at the same time maintaining her principles and commitment. Her spirit and example will continue to inspire our work.
