Geertruida Berendina (Peters) Schuurkamp

SCHUURKAMP, Geertruida Berendina

Boularderie Center   91

It is with broken hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend, Geertruida Berendina Schuurkamp (Truus) on Friday, May 10, 2019 surrounded by her loving family at the Halifax Infirmary after a brief illness.  

Born October 1, 1927 in Arnhem, Netherlands, Mom was the daughter of Johan and Geertruida Peters.  Mom immigrated to Canada in October 1954 with her loving husband, Gerrit, and three young children, arriving at North Sydney to provide a better life for their family after war-torn Holland.  Mom was a kind and loving homemaker.  She was a quite unassuming person but loved her family deeply.  Her family was her life. Mom worked alongside Dad for many years in their fish smoking business.  They were renowned for their fresh smoked mackerel, herring and eels, delivering to many grocery stores in industrial Cape Breton in the 1960’s and 70’s.  Mom was an avid gardener and enjoyed every blossom that opened and was always so thankful for a fresh bunch of flowers.  When they lived in North Sydney, mom was a member of St. John’s Anglican Church as well as the altar guild. Later when they moved to Kempt Head, mom became a member of Knox Presbyterian Church in Ross Ferry, as well she became a member of the Knox Atlantic Mission Society.  Mom really enjoyed spending time with her mission society friends as well as their many outings.  Mom always had you in her prayers.

Mom was predeceased by her parents, loving husband of 54 years Gerrit, son Gerrit Jr., infant grandson Daniel Kenneth, brothers Johann and Adrianus, sons-in-law Brian MacLellan and William (Bill) Taylor.  

Mom leaves to mourn her passing, her son, John (Rodina) Schuurkamp, Lamont, AB; daughters, Trish Taylor, North Sydney, Brenda (Duncan) MacLeod, Boularderie Center, with whom she resided, and Thea MacLellan, Kempt Head; grandchildren, Troy Taylor (Angela), Gerritt Taylor (Michelle), Dawn Taylor, Nathan MacLeod (Brittany), Joel MacLeod (Jamee), Emmaly MacLeod (Joey), Lorel MacLellan and Ella MacLellan; great-grandchildren, William, Cove, and Meadow Taylor and Hayden MacLeod; sister-in-law, Hennie Van Den Berg, Ermelo, Netherlands, along with many nieces and nephews in the Netherlands, as well as life-long devoted family friends, Wes and Marie Stewart. 

Mom touched our lives in so many ways as well as all those who came to know her.  In her weakened state at the age of 91, mom was still able to tell us over and over how much she loved us. Mom’s loss leaves us with a huge void in our family and we will truly miss her.

The family would like to extend a “very special thank you” to the Victoria County Home Support Service, Baddeck (Molly, Ronda and Christina), and VON (Danielle, Joanne, Marlene, Sherry-Lynn, Suzanne) and numerous other care providers of these two agencies (who know who you are) who kindly and compassionately cared for Mom over the past number of years, allowing Mom to remain in her home with her family for which she was and we are truly grateful.  We would also like to thank Dr. Paul Hickey and Lori Hyde, Dr. M. Naqvi, Dr. Matt Smith QEII, internists and nursing staff of Unit 4.1 of the Halifax Infirmary for Mom’s care.

By request there will be no visitation.  A funeral service for Geertruida will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at Knox Presbyterian Church, Ross Ferry with Rev. Peter MacDonald officiating.  Burial will follow in MacDonald Cemetery, Ross Ferry. 

Memorial donations may be made to Knox Presbyterian Church, Ross Ferry.  Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.wjdooley.com.  

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