Obituary of Joanne Vervoort

Joanne Vervoort

Peacefully with her family by her side on Monday, November 30, 2020 in her 93^rd year. Loving wife of 69 years to the late Jack (2009). Loving mother of Edward (Lynn), Mary (Andy) Poulin, Mika (Dick Stuive) and Pam Walker (Jim Booker). Much loved grandma of Jason (Sarah) and Brett (Becky) Poulin, Grant (Kim), Laura (Cody) Kenyon, Robert (Alicia) Walker and Cheryl (Joe) Lariviere. Cherished Oma to Tianna Vervoort, Emily and Andrew Poulin, Holli and Elise Poulin, Dakota and Payton Kenyon, Kolten and Maddison Lariviere. Also survived by her brother Daan Verbaan, brothers-in-law Paul (Maureen) Vervoort and John (Adele) Vervoort, and sisters-in-law Coby Snapper and Tiny Vanderzon. Joanne will also be fondly remembered by her good friend Willy Vermolen. Predeceased by her twin sister Truus Van T’Ent and her other siblings Dick, Bertus & Jan Verbaan. Joanne will be remembered for her love of animals, nature, and above all else, her grandchildren.

Family and friends will be received at the GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL HOME, 585 Carlton Street, St. Catharines on Friday, December 4 from 7-9 p.m. A Celebration of Joanne’s life will be held on Saturday, December 5 at 11 a.m. in the funeral home ceremony room. Cremation to follow the service. If desired, memorial donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario or Extendicare would be appreciated by the family.

As per the Province of Ontario Covid-19 regulations - visitation is limited to 30% building capacity. Funeral attendance is limited to 65 guests. All guests attending the visitation or funeral must bring a mask and must call in to make an appointment. (905)-937-4444.

Johanna Vervoort nee Verbaan

Born October 30^th, 1928

• Johanna, our mother or Joanne or Oma as she was known as in Canada to friends, neighbors and family was born in Holland and lived her first 29 years there
• Jo and Co, our parents did everything they could to give each of us an opportunity to have a better life than they had
• she was strong willed woman and always gave her full attention to any task she tackled
• she was also a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and sibling
• she was forgiving, compassionate, understanding, caring, humorous and spiritual in mind and body
• little is known to us about mom’s childhood except that she had a twin sister and 2 brothers besides her parents, little else was talked about as to upbringing
• most of mom’s family worked in either the fishing or ocean shipping industry in Holland
• mom as a young girl/teen grew up in Holland during it’s occupation by Germany in the second WW
• she and her siblings and mother would often go out on their bicycles in search of bread, potatoes or whatever else they could acquire to help feed the family back home. There were real dire times when they collected potato peelings to make a meal as food was scarce at times
• During this period she also began to write letters as a pen pal to soldiers and this was how she met Jacobus Marinus Vervoort or Jack her future husband.
• After the war, Jack and Joanne were married, on January 31^st, 1951, and in October of 1951 I was the first born of 4 children to the couple. Maarja(Mary), Mieke(Mika) and finally Pam born in Canada made our family six complete
• Dad had family including his widowed mother who lived in Canada and Mom had her family all in Holland
• In 1958-59 after much discussion Jack and Joanne decided to take their young family of 3 children then and immigrate to Canada to seek out a new and better life. This was truly difficult for mom to leave those loved ones in her family
• Mom kept regular contact with her family in Holland especially her youngest brother Daan and his family, Truus and her husband Finus, and of course her mother and father
• Daan lost his wife Tonnie suddenly and this quite upset mom as she lost someone whom she loved speaking with regularly
• Daan, Truus, Finus and Oma Verbaan all came to Canada for vacations over the years and this was truly a very happy time for mom and she and dad would also make trips to Holland, in fact she and Truus celebrated their 80^th birthdays together before Truus passed away a few years later.
• Opa Verbaan never came to Canada to visit for although he’d spent time on ocean liners he was scared to death to fly in an airplane.
• In coming to Canada the biggest barrier we all shared, except for dad, was the language
• Mom while in Ottawa, Hamilton and St. Catharines took on jobs cleaning homes and working in nursing homes, this not only helped financially for our household but helped her and us learn the english language
• Ottawa was our first home in Canada living with Oma Vervoort, dad’s brothers Dick and Truus and Paul in a large two story house on Kenwood Ave. What a time that was for us all (11 of us living in one large house) but nevertheless we managed to make it work.
• Soon we were able to get our own rental property in Ottawa and that made life more appealing
• During the ensuing summer months our Sundays were spent at Britannia Beach or Murphy’s Point which both bordered the Ottawa River, summer holidays were spent at Algonquin Prov. Park camping with dad’s sister Tinnie and Ben Vanderzon and their family of 3 girls.
• As time went on dad took some additional jobs on weekends at cottages installing plumbing, his trade, and digging water wells with my help at times
• at one of these cottage adventures I recall mom had made oatmeal for supper, which we generally all enjoyed and fulfilled our nourishment necessities. As we sat around the table eating I recall thinking is this oatmeal slightly burned or are my taste buds out of whack. I tried quietly seeking confirmation from my siblings, Mary and Mika to no avail so I made the mistake of asking my mother, “is this oatmeal burned slightly or is it me”, well I might as well have taken out an ad in the paper cause the wrath of my mother came down upon me, “no it’s not burnt, it’s fine and you’d better eat up or your going to get it again for breakfast”, dad of course was no consoling person either as he stood by mom. Soon it was me at the table trying to gag down the oatmeal along with a half a loaf of bread and peanut butter to help kill the taste. This was all under the watchful eye of my mother of course.
• Mom overall was generally a very good cook although as a child I was not fond of her cooking spinach which I didn’t like and then there was the smell and taste of brussel sprouts cooking which to me was an abhorant vegetable fit only for anyone but me. Mother loved them as she did potatoes and gravy, she had to always have the last potato in the bowl with some gravy on her plate.
• As I said earlier mom cleaned houses for the Sherwood ladies who lived next door to us in Ottawa and many other homes
• In St. Catharines mom cleaned homes and worked at nursing homes, Tufford Nursing Home and Linhaven Nursing Home, being she never ever got her driver’s license she either got dropped off by her husband when possible, took the bus if it was within the budget or mostly walked to wherever she had to go. Mom had likely one of the best cardiovascular systems anywhere with all the walking she did, she never liked to put somebody else out
• It was at Linhaven that mom met Dorothy another worker and they became good friends over the years. When mom’s time came to go into Extendicare in St. Catharines because she was unable to look after herself the person who looked after mom was Dorothy’s niece, who’d have believed it.
• Mom was also an avid Blue Jay’s fan and her and dad attended games now and then but mostly watched on TV and here mom showed her fire and brimstone yelling at the TV when calls were made that she didn’t agree with. In fact mom didn’t hesitate to let referees, umpires, coaches, judges of any and all sporting events she attended in which the grandchildren played if she didn’t agree with a call or showed disfavor to her grandchildren. She claimed she was nothing like her twin sister Truus but brother Daan said she was exactly like Truus which in itself was enough to set her off at times.
• Mom always called everybody on their birthday, anniversary or any special occasions yet not long ago we were all celebrating her 90^th birthday and she refused to attend at Bugsy’s Restaurant, that was just who she was
• In retirement mom and dad enjoyed going for coffee each day and it was here that she met her good friend Willy Vermolen, mom and Willy enjoyed many coffees, stories and laughs together and even when mom went into Extendicare Willy went there to visit and enjoy a coffee, tea, story or laugh together. Thank you Willy for your friendship and companionship you provided mom.
• When dad died we were all at the hospital at his bedside and I remember her saying when he took his last breath that she couldn’t believe it and she’d forgotten to say goodbye to him, she took it hard, losing the man of 58 Years by her side, but she did manage to live another 11 years.
• Grandchildren and great-grandchildren were always a highlight for mom, no matter what they always brightened her spirits, Jason, Grant, Laura, Brett, Robert, and Cheryl and some dozen or so Great-grandchildren, we thank you all for always putting a smile on Oma’s face
• Mom was a real animal lover and our home always had a cat or dog or both around and the wildlife in and around our homes was always well looked after with daily feedings by mom and eventually they also all received names.
• Spiritually mom tried her best to ensure we went to church every Sunday, although I did manage to escape on my own a few times
• As she became older and was on her own she continued to walk, weather permitting, to church, the Fairview Mall, grocery store, hairdresser, or Tim Horton’s.
• Sadly now your walk is ended mom, now you can fly where you wish to go as I’m sure God gave you angel’s wings. We thank you for all you’ve done for us and we’ll all miss you but and now it’s time to rest, until we all meet again.

Grandchildren Comments

• Robert Walker remembered Oma always had candy and dutch black licorice for them when she knew they were coming to visit
• Cheryl Walker remembered going shopping at Zeller’s in the Fairview Mall with her mother and Oma for her first strapless undergarment. While in the cashier line she could hear Oma calling her, “Cheryl, is this one okay and what your looking for”
• Laura Kenyon (nee Vervoort) remembers going to Buffalo with Jason, Brett, Grant and Oma one Saturday to do some shopping. Laura bought some Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter cups and on the way home ate them to which Oma said, “well aren’t you a fine one eating up those peanut butter cups without even asking anyone else whether they might like a bite”. Sharing was always important to Oma and to this day Laura ensures that she instilled in her own children to always share with others.