Obituary of Teunisje HARRISON (nee Jansen)

October 21, 1927 – Dogpound, Alberta
October 5, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

Teunisje Harrison, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away peacefully surrounded by her family in Calgary, Alberta, on Monday, October 5, 2020 at the age of 92 years.

Teunisje was born in Dogpound, Alberta, on October 21, 1927.  She was the daughter of Dutch homesteaders, Hendrik and Aaltje (nee Cortus) Jansen.  She grew up on a farm during The Great Depression and, in spite of this, describes her childhood as happy.  She attended Summit Hill School for nine years and she loved learning and her teachers. She moved to Calgary after completing her high school education in Nobleford, Alberta.  Teunisje married Lawrence Noble Harrison in 1951 and they had a loving and adventurous marriage until his death in 1984.    

Amidst raising her five children, Teunisje graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Education in 1975. She was very proud of this accomplishment.  She worked as a teacher at the Alberta Vocational Centre and developed a program to help young adults gain the necessary educational requirements to advance to post-secondary education.  After her retirement, she continued learning, reading avidly, and was a member of the book club at the Manor.

Teunisje had a passion for nature and, after her husband died, she lived alone for twenty years in a wilderness home built by her husband and sons.  She loved camping, fishing with her sons, and was a member of a senior’s outdoor club.  She enjoyed hiking and cross-country skiing into her seventies and eighties.  She was an excellent cook and she loved to host large family gatherings over the holidays.  

She was very proud of her family’s talents and accomplishments and supported them in all their endeavors: fine art, woodworking, performing arts, athletics, and education.  She had an avid interest in current events, in geography, and she travelled all over the world.  She had heartfelt ties to Kauai, Maui, and New Zealand. 

Teunisje experienced many challenges in her life and she faced them with courage, resiliency, and dignity.  As a positive role model, she inspired others to cope adaptively to their own life challenges.  In addition, she was a teacher and mentor to many.  She highly valued and carefully nurtured all her relationships and she was loved by many. 

Teunisje is lovingly remembered by her children, Daryl (Jeanne) Harrison, Beverly (Michael) Landry, Lawrence/Renny (Susan) Harrison, Roland (Gena) Harrison, and Teunisje (Gordon) Gruber; twelve grandchildren, Shaun Harrison, Ashley (Caven) Seder, Brian (Angela) Harrison, Dorian (Jessica) Landry, Raymond (Evgenia) Landry, Lawrence (Kseniya) Landry, Adam (Karen) Harrison, Brooklyn and McKinley Harrison, Anna Harrison, and Teunisje Erin and Maralise Gruber; seven great-grandchildren, Hazel, Skylah, Elysse, Evan, Aleksandra, Maksim, Noah; and her sisters, Marie Smith of Calgary, AB, and Johanna (Nick) VanVeen of Abbotsford, BC.  Teunisje was predeceased by her husband, Lawrence, brothers, Stephen (Reka) Jansen and Henry (Johanna) Jansen; and sisters, Wanda (Joseph) Shibley, Alice (Harold) Ball of Regina, SK, Harriette (Vern) Rau of Red Deer, AB, and Jeannette (Gilbert) Spielman.  She was also predeceased by her companion, Chuck Blanchard, and her dear long-time family friends, Louise and Paul Roozen.
 
Due to Covid Restrictions, a Private Viewing and Funeral Service at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY will be by invitation only. Teunisje’s funeral will be Zoom Video Conferenced on Monday, October 19, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. at the following link: https://vimeo.com/event/366966, or in the embedded video below. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Teunisje’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.  Our sincerest thanks to Agape Hospice and Hillhurst United Church.  If friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

In living memory of Teunisje Harrison, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE NW, CALGARY, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone:  403-241-0044.