December 7, 1951 – September 16, 2021

 

On a beautiful September day, as the sun shone through her window, our momma took her last breath and forever found peace in the heavens above.

 

Mom fought a six-month battle with cancer. And fight, she did! She was always optimistic, cheerful and full of positivity as she enjoyed her last 3.5 months at the Prairie Lake Hospice. Mom always spoke about how wonderful she was treated there, the delicious food and the ice cream that she could order at the push of her call bell!

 

In August of 1979, Lidya and her husband Alfons, immigrated to Canada from the Netherlands. Along with them came their two young children, Alfons Jr. and Mariska. One more son would come along a few years later in Canada in 1980, who they named William.

 

For many years, Mom and Dad had a grain farm, and in the winter, Dad worked on the oil and gas rigs. Later in life they had a sheep farm, which the young grandchildren loved to visit. For the last 10 years, Mom lived in Valleyview at the Wild Rose Manor, as the farm life was too hard on her frail body. There she made so many close friends, who she always thought of as her family.

 

Mom is lovingly survived by her husband Alfons Vredegoor, her son Alfons Jr. Vredegoor (Anita), granddaughters Chelsea and Kyrsten, daughter Mariska Macklin (Brody), granddaughter Mieke (Kyle) and great grandbabies Ryker and Maren, granddaughter Hope (Dakota), grandson Skyy and granddaughter Jovi, by her youngest son William Vredegoor (Kathy). She is also missed by her two dear neighbor friends Miss Kay and Sheila, her friend Joan and her grand-dog Baby Blu, who spent countless hours on her lap at the Hospice.

 

From Holland, she will be greatly missed by her sister Heidi Aarts-Lintvelt (Rene) and her family, her brother John Lintvelt and her brother Ed Lintvelt and the rest of our family also.

 

Mom was predeceased by her father Wim Lintvelt, her mother Mieke Wilhelmina Johanna Hermanna Noordhoek, her brother Anton Wim Lintvelt, her nephew Andrew Egbert Jan Bruins and very recently her granddaughter Katia Dawn Dorathea Johnson.

 

Her family would like to thank the staff at the Hospice for her wonderful care, as well as family and friends who visited Mom during her stay. Oh how she enjoyed your company! And a special thank you to the lovely Jancey Dolen who Mom called “Yanc-ya” because with her strong Dutch accent, she couldn’t pronounce her J’s. “I just love her!” Mom would always tell me.

 

One of the last phone conversations Mom and Dad had, ended with a song he used to sing to her when they started dating over 50 years ago and it went like this; “Hello Lidya, how do you do? Do you remember me baby, like I remember you? I love you oh so much and do you love me too?” Mom’s response was “I love you too, lots”.

 

Please know that our mom Lidya accepted her terminal cancer diagnosis with grace. She told me frequently how she loved being at the Hospice and how happy she was. Mom’s wishes were not to have a funeral, but to be cremated and remain with her children.

 

“Don’t be sad for me, for I am ready to go. Katia is waiting for me.” And she hoped heaven has coffee and whoopie cushions.

 

Until we see you again, momma we love you, and try and stay out of trouble!!

 

Mom would spend hours every year knitting hundreds of scarves for those in need. In lieu of flowers, if you could drop off scarves, mittens, touques and socks to your local shelter, our family would be so grateful.

 

Care entrusted to Bear Creek Funeral Home 780-830-7742 bearcreekfuneral.com

• Date : 2021-09-16
• Location : Grande Prairie, Alberta

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