A resident of Rosebridge Manor in Easton’s Corners for the past four months, Susanna Engwerda passed away there on Tuesday, July 30, 2013. She was 90.
Susanna was born in Emmer-Compascum, The Netherlands, on July 26, 1923, to her parents Johan Rudolf Tholen (1967) and Maria Wilhelmina Wessels (1946). She was the second of seven daughters who were followed, to the immense relief of her father, by twin boys.
Susanna, or Leida as she was known to her family, married Gerben Engwerda in January of 1954, and they immigrated to Canada to join two of Susanna’s sisters and their families in Calgary. It was here they started their family, became Canadian citizens and were proud Albertans for 13 years. In July of 1967, they moved east and settled on the farm at RR # 2 Chesterville where the love of the land was instilled into their children.
Upon retirement Susanna and Gerben travelled extensively to Holland, the prairies and enjoyed a three month stay in Australia.
In 1993, Morrisburg became their home, and Susanna lived in this close knit community longer than she had lived anywhere since coming to Canada.
Following Gerben’s death in 2000, Susanna continued to cross the pond almost annually and made many memories with her dear friends as they enjoyed countless bus trips exploring both in Canada and the U.S.
In 2011, Susanna successfully conquered cancer, and it was shortly afterwards in January of 2012, that she made the move the few blocks to The Hartford Retirement Centre where she resided until April of this year.
The last months saw her at Rosebridge Manor in Easton’s Corners, where she was surrounded by the compassion and laughter of caregivers who treated her as family, they are second to none
Susanna is survived by her children Mary-Anne and John Gibson and their children Virginia (Ian) and Allison (Shawn), Susanna and John Cayer and their children Jason, Curtis, J.J., Bobby, Matthew, Louise and Luc and Gerald and his children Nathan and Alexis.
Susanna also leaves behind her great-grandchildren Aurora, Peyton, Kai and Marie-Eve, who brought endless delight to their “Moma”.
She was predeceased by her husband Gerben, her granddaughter Christina Gibson, her sisters Marietje and Elisabeth and her brother Gerard who have welcomed her to Heaven with loving arms.
Susanna is also survived by her sisters Wilhelmina of Calgary, Lenie (Jan), Greta (Willy), Graddy and her brother Hennie (Lenie) all of Holland and sisters-in-law Maria of Australia and Marietje of Holland.
Friends called at the Marsden and Mclaughlin Funeral Home, Williamsburg, on Friday, August 2, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
A C.W.L. service was held on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Morrisburg on Saturday, August 3, at 10 a.m., with Father Chisholm officiating. Interment followed at St. Francis de Sales Cemetery, Smiths Falls where Susanna was laid to rest with Gerben and Christina.
Pallbearers were John Gibson, John Cayer, Gerald Engwerda, Nathan Engwerda, Ian Larochelle and Shawn Caron.
Donations to The Alzheimer’s Society or St. Mary’s Church would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences may be made at marsdenmclaughlin.com.
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