Obituary of Anna Theodora LUIDER (nee Dekker)

November 7, 1924 – Waarland, Harenkarspel, Netherlands
November 2, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

Anna Theodora Luider (nee Dekker), our loving mother, oma, and groot oma, passed away on Monday, November 2, 2020, at the age of 95.

Anna and her twin sister, Geertruida Agatha Dekker, were born November 7, 1924, in Waarland, Netherlands. They were the fourth and fifth daughters of farmers Derek and Geertruida Dekker.

The Dekkers had a total of fourteen children, and Anna remembered her family as loving — no matter how difficult their circumstances. With her brothers still too young to help her parents on the farm, Anna left school at a young age to help her Dad milk cows and grow cabbages and potatoes.

She was only 16 when the Nazis occupied her home country. Her family was fortunate enough to raise their own food, thereby staving off the hunger that affected so many of their friends, but they still had very little. Nevertheless, Anna gave away her socks and other clothing to people she felt needed them more. These years of hardship were critical in forming Anna’s outlook on life, inspiring both her frugality and her lifetime of service to other people.

Anna immigrated to Canada in 1954, navigating all the way from Nova Scotia to Alberta despite not knowing any English. She married another Dutch immigrant and raised four children: Nel, Pieter, Margaret, and Michael.

She and her husband eventually divorced, and Anna fearlessly embarked on a life of fierce independence in her new country. She enrolled in continuing education classes to learn English. She took a job in a hospital sterilizing equipment, working in the kitchen, and housekeeping. Anna loved speaking with elderly people in the hospital and would often pray with them.

Anna never learned to drive but could walk faster than public transportation. She traveled everywhere on foot, even during Calgary’s brutally cold winters, and had zero hesitation or fear about being a woman in the city alone. She eventually had both knees replaced, but only gave up her walking habit in her early 90s.

She rarely sat still. Even on her days off, Anna would pick up additional jobs to add to her nest egg; she was determined to never be a burden to her children. She was always working or knitting, and hundreds of people received her finely made knit slippers and Christmas stockings over the years. Her children often brought her wool, but Anna would knit it faster than they could purchase it.

Although Anna was frugal, she was lavish with her time. She never forgot her gratitude to the Allies for their role in liberating her country during World War II and volunteered at the Royal Canadian Legion for decades. She sold poppies year after year. She taught “old ladies” (who were often 10 or 15 years younger than she was) to knit during group classes. She gave her time to her church.

Anna was honored for her volunteer efforts many times: She received a certificate of appreciation for dedicated volunteer service from the Kerby Center; a certificate of appreciation for services rendered to the Ladies Auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion; an appreciation award from the Calgary Poppy Fund for her visitations to the sick; and a certificate of merit and lifetime membership in honor of her long and faithful service from the Royal Canadian Legion.

Anna’s life was not easy or straightforward. She deeply missed her family in the Netherlands and the routines of her home country but chose to stay close to her children in Canada. She was raised to always be working, yet one of her favorite things was to attend the Calgary Stampede every year and just take in the bands and music and cowboys and colorful people. She was a traditional person who spent most of her life as a single woman. She struggled mightily to learn the language and customs of her adopted country yet always longed for home.

Through her, we learned to carry more than your weight, never be a burden to others, be kind to strangers, and that you can accomplish anything if you work at it.

Anna’s family includes her children, Nel (Hank), Pieter (Leslie), Margaret, and Michael (Brenda); grandchildren Ryan Luider, Ana Luider, Graeme Luider, Michael Page, and Corinne Page; and great-grandchildren Gavin Veenstra and fellow twins Maxim and Bowen Veenstra. Her brother, Thijs (Allie) Dekker, survives her.

Her family would like to thank the staff at the Chartwell Fountains of Mission in Calgary for the care, support, and compassion for our mother through the years. She enjoyed her time at the mission, meeting new friends and spending time with them. Her family particularly appreciates the love and kindness during difficult times.

Gratitude also goes out to the caring, special people from the Foothills Hospital Emergency Department, Unit 32, the Southwood Hospice Care Centre, and the caring folks at McInnis & Holloway.

If you feel moved to do so, please consider a contribution to the Royal Canadian Legion’s Poppy Fund.

Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Anna’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of Anna Luider, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.