KEMINK, Aaltje 'Alice' (Steengraver) - Aaltje (Alice) Kemink died suddenly in her home on December 26, 2020 at the age of 97.
She was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on May 16, 1923 and met her husband Arie (Art) while working in a garment factory during the early war years. They married in December 1941 during the war. Art was also a developing artist and Alice was an avid supporter of Art’s career until he died.
Their early years of marriage was during a period when Germany occupied The Netherlands and resources were sparse. They eventually became active in the Dutch resistance movement against the German occupation.
After the war ended they had a son John who was born in 1946. During John’s early childhood, the family moved to the village Sloterdijk just on the outskirts of Amsterdam. After again moving back to the city for a year or two the family decided to immigrate to Canada in April 1958. They sailed on the immigration ship “De Groote Beer” to Quebec City. Art’s sister and her family had immigrated prior to this date and lived in Brandon, Manitoba where the Keminks also settled.
In July 1959, the family decided to return to The Netherlands, this time they sailed on the ship “De Waterman” to Rotterdam and again settled in a newly built apartment in Amsterdam Osdorp.
In May 1961, it was decided that their wish was to again return to Canada, but to Toronto this time on a KLM DC-8 flight, they settled in Woodbridge, outside the city of Toronto. A bungalow home was purchased in 1964 where Alice lived until 2018 when she moved to a condo apartment not far from her former home.
Alice and Art visited The Netherlands in 1968 and 1973 to spend time with family. Alice and her sister Jos were very close and maintained contact until Jos’s death in 2017.
Alice was a person who loved social contact and acquired many friends throughout the years. You could also find her in her garden tending to her flowers whenever she could. Art and Alice would venture out in their car very frequently exploring the countryside.
Alice was predeceased by her husband Art (2006), her sister Johanna (Jos) (2017), her brother Bob (1980), her father Rudolph Franciscus (1976) and her mother Helena (1976).
In lieu of gifts or flowers donations to the Arthritis Society will be appreciated.
Arrangements entrusted with Scott funeral home, WOODBRIDGE Chapel. To join the livestream of the chapel service on Thursday December 31st at 11:00 am. please click the following link or copy and paste it into a new browser: http://www.livememorialservices.com/Home/ServiceDetail/9212
To join the livestream of the interment, on Thursday December 31st at 12:15 pm, please click the following link or copy and past it into a new browser: http://www.livememorialservices.com/Home/ServiceDetail/9213
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