Obituary for Ann (Antje) Verbaas
Antje (Ann) Verbaas (nee Poelstra)
August 6, 1936-December 14, 2022
Antje was born in Winsum, Friesland, The Netherlands and immigrated to Canada in 1951 at the age of 15, along with her parents and siblings. Her early life was adventurous with trips abroad, a brief stint at modelling and her own sports car. She attended nursing college, and while working in Brockville, Ontario, met and married George Verbaas in 1967, and became mother to Wendy, Alice and John. Isaac completed the family in 1973. While busy raising her family, she continued to work, and to produce amazing works of embroidery, knitting, sewing: her fabric talents were many. After being widowed in 1989, she was re-married to Harold Westendorp in 1998. She was widowed again in 2010.
In 2013, she made the courageous decision to move across the country to be closer to her grandchildren, and made a new home in Camrose, Alberta. She became an active member in her church, The Church of God in Camrose, and brought her amazing quilting talents to the Battle River Quilters Guild. Many were blessed to receive her works of art.
She was fiercely independent and lived on her own until the age of 84. After a short stay in care, Antje passed peacefully with her children at her side.
Antje is survived by her four children John Verbaas (Lori Rees), Alice Verbaas (Myron Zurawsky), Wendy Verbaas (Phil Hunt) and Isaac Verbaas, and her three grandchildren Ethan, Nolan and Sage Verbaas. She is also survived by her two siblings John (Jan) Poelstra (Rina) and Nelly Poelstra.
Antje is predeceased by her parents Jochem and Hipkjen Poelstra, and siblings Fred, Betty, Jane, Pieter, Shirley and Liz, and her husbands, George and Harold.
Eternal thanks to the loving care she received from the staff at Rosehaven. A memorial service will be held January 24, 2023 at 11:00am at the Irvine Memorial Chapel at Roselawn in Maitland, Ontario.
In memory of Ann, donations to the Alzheimer's Society will be gratefully appreciated by her family.
Send condolences or share a special thought of Ann on the Memory Wall above.
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August 6, 1936-December 14, 2022
Antje was born in Winsum, Friesland, The Netherlands and immigrated to Canada in 1951 at the age of 15, along with her parents and siblings. Her early life was adventurous with trips abroad, a brief stint at modelling and her own sports car. She attended nursing college, and while working in Brockville, Ontario, met and married George Verbaas in 1967, and became mother to Wendy, Alice and John. Isaac completed the family in 1973. While busy raising her family, she continued to work, and to produce amazing works of embroidery, knitting, sewing: her fabric talents were many. After being widowed in 1989, she was re-married to Harold Westendorp in 1998. She was widowed again in 2010.
In 2013, she made the courageous decision to move across the country to be closer to her grandchildren, and made a new home in Camrose, Alberta. She became an active member in her church, The Church of God in Camrose, and brought her amazing quilting talents to the Battle River Quilters Guild. Many were blessed to receive her works of art.
She was fiercely independent and lived on her own until the age of 84. After a short stay in care, Antje passed peacefully with her children at her side.
Antje is survived by her four children John Verbaas (Lori Rees), Alice Verbaas (Myron Zurawsky), Wendy Verbaas (Phil Hunt) and Isaac Verbaas, and her three grandchildren Ethan, Nolan and Sage Verbaas. She is also survived by her two siblings John (Jan) Poelstra (Rina) and Nelly Poelstra.
Antje is predeceased by her parents Jochem and Hipkjen Poelstra, and siblings Fred, Betty, Jane, Pieter, Shirley and Liz, and her husbands, George and Harold.
Eternal thanks to the loving care she received from the staff at Rosehaven. A memorial service will be held January 24, 2023 at 11:00am at the Irvine Memorial Chapel at Roselawn in Maitland, Ontario.
In memory of Ann, donations to the Alzheimer's Society will be gratefully appreciated by her family.
Send condolences or share a special thought of Ann on the Memory Wall above.
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