Aagje “Agnes” van Dodewaard passed away peacefully at the Ottawa General Hospital, surrounded by her loved ones. Cancer couldn’t get her down and she beat all the odds, but losing the love of her life was too much for her.
Agnes joined Henk on Thursday, April 7, 2016. Aagje van Dodewaard (nee Vink) of Iroquois in her 81st year. Dearly beloved wife of the late Henk van Dodewaard. Loving mother of Arie (Ineke) of RR # 3 Williamsburg, Marja (Marcel) Smellink of Iroquois, Henry (Brenda) of Iroquois, John (Janis) of Iroquois, Erik (Donna) of Brockville and Peter (Debra) of Iroquois.
She was dear sister of Grada Hofman, Metje Bosman, Corrie Gruijs and Dinie (Piet) Jansen van Doorn all of Holland.
Agnes was predeceased by two grandsons, Michael and Daniel, by brothers Wim, Broer and Gerrit and by sisters Marietje Bosman, Joke Bosman and Elly Latte.
She will be missed by her 19 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Born in Valburg in the Netherlands, Aagje was the second youngest of 11 children. During the war, she and her family moved quite a few times between Holland, Germany and Belgium, making it very hard for her to finish school.
She married Henk in 1957 and they celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary on November 27th 2014, just a couple of weeks before he passed away, at the hospice that he was staying at, surrounded by their family.
Aagje’s whole life was about her faith in God, her family and making a good home, and always being there for her husband, children and grandchildren. She had six children, five boys and one girl.
In 1977, Aagje moved with her husband and children from Holland to Canada, where her oldest sister lived.
In the early 80’s, she helped her husband and sons build up their business. She baby sat children for about five years, and became a foster mom for about 10 years.
Agnes loved helping people out. When she was young enough, she would give her time to clean a house or baby sit someone’s children. She often made meals for people who were ill or who needed it, etc.
She loved to crochet and knit, and many of her blankets and hats went to people who needed them. Some of her granddaughters were lucky enough receive one of these blankets too.
In 2011, Agnes was diagnosed with lung cancer, but she never complained about it, or let it affect her life. Little did she know at the time that her husband would die of the same disease and even sooner than her.
Once Henk passed away she tried to go on without him. But her reason for living was gone and nobody could replace that spot in her heart, so she finally gave in. The cancer had hardly grown in five years, but her body finally gave up.
Agnes will be sadly missed by her family and friends here and in the Netherlands.
Donations to Easter Seals would be gratefully acknowledged by the family
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