Van BLOKLAND, Johanna Maria Van Blokland -
1930 – 2024
Johanna Maria Van Blokland, 93, of Bowmanville, Ontario, passed away on Monday, May 6, 2024.
Johanna was born on November 19, 1930, to Bartholomeus Busker and Anna Daalhuizen in Breukelen, Netherlands, where she lived until 1952, when the Busker siblings moved to Canada together with their young families in tow.
Due to the German occupation of Holland during World War II, Johanna attended a school run by nuns who taught a slanted curriculum, unlike her older sisters who had more traditional schooling. She finished eighth grade and went on to complete training for office work.
In 1948, while employed at a dairy laboratory, she met Johannes (Jan) Van Blokland. Jan became a border in her family’s home, and their romanced blossomed. She and Jan married on October 25, 1950. A few months after Tina was born, Jan and Johanna moved to Canada, where Nancy and Joanne were born.
After Jan retired in the mid-80s, he and Johanna spent their time travelling together, particularly to Hawaii and once to Cuba. In the years after Jan’s death, Johanna enjoyed shopping, reading, going to the casino, and spending time with family.
Johanna is survived by her three daughters and their husbands, Tina and Ron Keys, Nancy and Steve Goodchild, and Joanne and Wes Crozier; her five grandchildren, Stephen and Leah Keys and Elise, Maddy, and Renee Crozier; and two great-grandchildren, Christopher and Emma Keys.
Services will be held at McEACHNIE FUNERAL HOME in Ajax (Pickering Village) on Friday, May 10, 2024 at 1:00 p.m., with visitation from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
If you wish, in lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made the Alzheimer Society of Canada, or to a charity of your choice.
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