On Tuesday, December 1, 2015, at the age of 91, Wilma (Wietske) Zwaal was taken home into the arms of her Saviour. Mom was born in 1924 in Friesland, Netherlands.
Her family moved to Argentina, South America where she grew up and on March 3, 1948 married Simon. She always laughed saying that she came to her marriage ceremony with one suitcase and a sewing machine.
While operating their own farm, they were blessed with two daughters, Lucia and Elena.
They arrived in Canada in 1953 where again they were blessed with another daughter, Geraldina. The Lord was the centre of their life and they were lifetime members of the First Christian Reformed Church. Mom loved taking care of her home and family and spent countless hours sewing dresses for her three girls and herself. She also loved knitting for all – from the tiny new babies to the adults.
In later years, she spent hours doing needlepoint and we are all recipients of many masterpieces, done with loving care. She accepted people for who they were, never judging. Mom and Dad travelled for many years, visiting family in Argentina & the Netherlands and to warm southern destinations during the winter.
When Dad’s health failed they moved from Broadway Avenue to Good Shepherd Village, where they found new friends. She took great pride in her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and their many accomplishments.
Wilma is survived by her daughter, Lucy (Fred) Kloosterhuis; Lisa (HoSoon) Hwang, Chris (Bobbie-lee) Kloosterhuis: daughter Elena (Peter) Hoogsteen; Roberta (Steve) Ford, Ian (Jim Smith) Hoogsteen. Sheri (Paul) MacInnis; and daughter Dina (Ray) Schuurman; Lori-ann (Paul) Pennings, Andrea (Justin) DeVries, Raymond (Jessica) Schuurman, as well as great grandchildren SueGee & Davry Hwang; Matthew & Branden Kloosterhuis; Tyson & Dylan Ford; Jacob, Maya & Samuel MacInnis; Sarah, Reuben & Abigail Pennings; Addison, Nadia, Rachel & Caleb DeVries; Jackson, Eden & Owen Schuurman, and one sister, Audrey Muller.
She was predeceased by her parents, Dirk & Lutske Vis, husband Simon, of 62 years, grandson Kenneth Kloosterhuis in infancy and 4 brothers and 3 sisters in Argentina and the Netherlands. The family expresses their sincere appreciation to all the nurses and staff at Bethammi Nursing Home (3rd floor) for their excellent care and love.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 4th at 11 am at the First Christian Reformed Church (Cooper Road). Visitation will be held, at the Church, on Thursday, December 3rd from 6 pm to 8 pm.
A private interment will be held at the Stanley Hill Cemetery. As an expression of sympathy, memorials to a charity of your choice would be appreciated.
God grant me the serenity to accept what I cannot change,
Courage to change the things that I can,
And Wisdom to know the difference
Wilma Zwaal will be remembered in the Blake Funeral Chapel Memorial Grove. Annual dedication service Sunday, June 12, 2016.
