Ella van Heemstra

Baroness Ella van Heemstra, (12 June 190026 August 1984) was a Dutch aristocrat and the mother of actress Audrey Hepburn. After her marriage to Joseph Victor Anthony Ruston, she became a British citizen. Biography Ella van Heemstra was a Dutch aristocrat and the third of five daughters of Baron Aarnoud van Heemstra, who was mayor of Arnhem from 1910 to 1920 and served as Governor of Suriname between 1921 and 1928. Ella's mother was Elbrig Willemine Henriette, Baroness van Asbeck (1873–1939), who was a granddaughter of jurist Count Dirk van Hogendorp. She spent much of her childhood at Huis Doorn. German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm purchased Huis Doorn, and moved in on 15 May 1920. This was to be his home until his death in June 1941. Personal life Van Heemstra was married and divorced twice, and had three children. Aged 19, Van Heemstra married Jonkheer Hendrik Gustaaf Adolf Quarles van Ufford. They divorced in 1925. Van Heemstra had two sons from this marriage, both of whom were born in the Dutch East Indies: