Obituary of VAN NIEKERK

VAN NIEKERK, Wilhelmina Johanna “Miep” December 30, 1921 – Ede, Netherlands August 30, 2015 – Calgary, Alberta Loving Mother to Nancy Vince & Pauline Mon Van Nahan of Vernon, BC, Joan Smith & Pieter van Niekerk of Calgary, AB It is with deep sadness and yet a measure of relief that we announce our mom’s passing at the age of 93 at Millrise Seniors Village in Calgary due to serious health complications. She has at last been freed of her pain and suffering and has gone to be in Heaven with our dad, the love of her life, William [Bill] who passed away in 2010. Mom was born in Holland and immigrated to London, Ontario in 1951 along with her husband Bill and two children, Nancy and Joan. Pauline was born in London and in 1954 the family moved to Calgary where their son Pieter was born. She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by daughters Nancy [Al] Vince, Joan [Malcolm] Smith, Pauline [Rick] Monahan, son Pieter [Antonella] van Niekerk, grandchildren Alfy Vince, Melinda [Troy] Halliday, Erin [Jose] Guerriero, Trevor Smith, Nolan and Matthew Insull, Jordan, Devon and Zachary van Niekerk and 10 great-grandchildren. Mom first met our dad in 1929 when she was eight years old and they married in 1945. They celebrated 65 wonderful years of marriage the year our dad passed away. She loved her husband and children very much and was always excited to have family visit. We remember many happy times vacationing, celebrating family birthdays, anniversaries, family Christmas’s and more. Mom loved music and was always the first one up to dance. During a recent visit to mom Pauline was playing the piano and mom danced with her walker around and around the room to the beat of the music. A memory we will cherish is that as weak as she was on the day she passed away she gave us a weak smile and wiggled her toes to some lovely mandolin music on the radio. She was always cheerful and loved to tell little family stories to everyone she met, often with a different take on the English language which always gave the listeners a good chuckle. Mom spent almost four years in Vernon, BC with daughters Nancy and Pauline after dad’s passing and loved being there. Last year she moved back to Calgary to Millrise Seniors Village. We want to thank them for the wonderful care they gave our mom, especially in her final days. We have only a memory, dear mother, We cherish our whole life through; But the sweetness will live forever As we treasure the memory of you. A Celebration of Life Mass will be held for mom at St. Anthony’s Parish (5340 – 4th Street S.W.) in Calgary, AB on Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Forward condolences through . If friends so desire, memorial tributes in mom’s name may be made directly to the Salvation Army by mail or by a Memory Donation Form which can be found on the Salvation Army website atwww.salvationarmy.ca. In living memory of Miep van Niekerk, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Fish Creek, 14441 BANNISTER ROAD S.E. Telephone: 403-256-9575.