W. Pieter Byhouwer, 82: Substance Abuse Counselor, Quaker

W. Pieter Byhouwer, 82, of Woonsocket, died Sunday, Dec. 22, 2013 in Overlook Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Pascoag.

He was the husband of Glenda E. (Metcalf) Byhouwer, whom he married May 31, 1987. Born in Rotterdam, Holland, he was the son of the late Jan T.P. and Evelyn (Oliver) Bijhouwer. Pieter earned a degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, earned his Masters of Divinity from Earlham School of Religion in Plainfield Indiana and also attended the University of Chicago. He was a substance abuse counselor, retiring in 2008.

Pieter was recorded as a Friends Minister (Quaker) in 1983 and was the minister for the Smithfield Friends Meeting in Woonsocket from 1987 to 1990.

He was involved in many Quaker organizations in addition to the Smithfield Friends Meeting including AFSC and the 57th St. Meeting of Friends in Chicago, IL. Pieter loved drawing, singing, dancing, reading, taking walks, running and most of all spending time with his family. He had unending patience and loved unconditionally.

His love of knowledge and of God, his kindness and empathy for all, his sense of duty to be of service to others and his sense of humor were traits that demonstrated his spirit. He was loved by many and will be missed.

Besides his wife Glenda, he is survived by three sons, Paul Bijhouwer and his wife Michele and their children of Arcade, NY, John Byhouwer and his wife Shinae and their children of Gaithersburg, MD, and David Becker and his wife Heather of Pascoag andtheir child; two daughters, Nan Byhouwer of Chicago, IL, and Sarah Gray and her husband Liam and their children of Providence; his siblings, Sietje Dekker-Bijhouwer and her husband Peter Dekker, Carla Oostergo and her husband Harry, and Roy Bijhouwer and his wife Anne-Mie Devolder, all of the Netherlands; and three generations of nephews and nieces in the Netherlands and Maine. He was the brother of the late Jan Bijhouwer and brother-in-law of the late Anda Bijhouwer. Visitation will be held Saturday, Dec. 28, from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. in the Smithfield Friends Meeting House, 108 Smithfield Rd, Woonsocket followed by a service at 1 p.m. Burial will be private. Funeral arrangements under the direction of the Holt Funereal Home, 510 So. Main St., Woonsocket.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Because He Lives Soup Kitchen, 323 Rathbun St., Woonsocket, RI 02895 or to the Smithfield Meeting of Friends, 108 Smithfield Rd., Woonsocket, RI 02895.