Wendy Weber Verstappen, 68, died at her home on March 2. “This is really sad news to announce to our closely knit community in the antiques show world,” said Vivien and Ed Cord as they sent the obituary notice for Wendy to everyone they knew would want to hear the news.
“We were in total disbelief when we got the call telling us about Wendy’s massive stroke in the beginning of February,” said the Cords. Wendy worked under the name Heron House Antiques and Interiors and, with her husband, the late Peter John Verstappen, always had a booth that was different and always unique, specializing in glowing vintage copper and iron culinary items from America, France and England.
“She always took great pride in her displays with vignettes of shapes and sizes inspiring her customers. Wendy and Peter participated in Cord Shows for as long as we’ve been in business and Peter and Vivien had many laughs speaking Dutch together. We will feel there is a hole in every show where Wendy’s booth would normally have been,” continued the Cords.
Wendy was born in Manhasset, L.I., N.Y., the daughter of William R. Weber and Hildegarde Hausman Weber. She attended Manhasset High School, graduated from Northwestern University and married Peter in 1967. Together they moved to Amsterdam and London where Wendy worked for Harrods and then, through the 1970s and 1980s, as a writer, researcher and editor for Peter’s travel guidebook business. They moved into a Tenth Century mill in Hampshire, England, where Wendy’s love of gardening and collecting English antiques flourished. Monxton Mill was filled with antiques and her collection of pets including dogs, cats and Muscovy ducks.
In 1996 the Verstappens moved back to the United States settling in Sharon, Conn., and opening Heron House Antiques and Interiors, an antiques business specializing in English brass, art and Victorian collectibles.
After Peter’s death in 2003, Wendy continued to sell her wares at antiques shows from Maine to Pennsylvania. She was best known for her spectacular collection of English brass, which she spent hours polishing before each show.
Wendy is survived by her daughter Kelly of Lewes, England, stepdaughters Amy Verstappen of Philadelphia and Lisa Rough of Seattle, and adoptive daughter Penny Colston of Maine; brother Garth Weber of Denville, N.J., and grandchildren Lena Verstappen and Abraham Aslanides.
At Wendy’s request, there will be no funeral service, but a private gathering of family and friends will be held in April. Donations in Wendy’s name can be made to the London-based charity, Trade Plus Aid, which works to alleviate poverty in some of the world’s poorest communities. Email wendy_verstappen@yahoo.com for information on how donations may be made.
