VANDEVALK, Johanna Maria 'Ann' (nee van den Heuvel) - (November 12, 1932 to June 12, 2021) -
Ann passed away in her 89th year while battling an aggressive, fast moving lymphoma.
The disease was robbing her of the joy she had been experiencing with her independent, relatively healthy and uncomplicated lifestyle at Hillside Place Seniors Residences in Mississauga, Ontario. Her decision to undergo the serious hardships that she would face with chemotherapy was rooted in the hope of being cured, and in her love of life and her family. She is sadly missed by all who knew her.
Ann was predeceased by the love of her life, her husband, Hendrikus Wilhelmus (Harry) Vandevalk who passed away in 2015, and by her beloved third child, William John (Bill) Vandevalk who also passed away in 2015.
Ann is survived by her children Henry, Gord and Diane, and their spouses, Barb Vandevalk, Cathe Vandevalk and Steve Wheeler.
Ann was crazy about her grandchildren, Gordon Jeffrey (Jeff), Victoria (Vicky), Christopher (Chris), Patrick (PJ) and Jameson (Jamey). Her heart melted lovingly with the thoughts of her great-grandchildren, Lincoln, Brynn, Lily, Jack and two new baby V’s coming in July and August.
The oldest sibling of three sisters and two brothers, Ann was born in the small rural town of Schaijk in southern Holland. Her family moved to a farm in nearby Odiliapeel when she was very young and she grew up working on the farm owned by her parents and younger brothers.
Ann was a young girl during the Second World War, but living on the farm spared her family many of the severe hardships and starvation experienced by the Dutch during the years of Nazi occupation. Even though the Nazis confiscated virtually all of their farm production, an underground black market economy and a double set of production records allowed them to barter for necessities and prevented their starvation. Nonetheless, with the air war raging in the skies over Holland and during the days of the ground war to liberate Holland from Nazi occupation, it was a very difficult time for the Dutch population, let alone a young girl growing up.
Ann’s future boyfriend and husband, Harry, was from the neighbouring town of Venhorst. They attended the same elementary school where Harry was a few grades ahead of her. Ann was taken out of school by her father to work on the farm, but Harry continued to maintain an interest in her, and when she was old enough to date, he asked her father for permission to see her. Their relationship grew stronger and they began to dream of future plans together. They didn’t know it then, but there was a very long road ahead of them yet to travel before they would be married.
Following the Second World War and the defeat of the Japanese army, the Dutch colony of Indonesia declared independence. The Netherlands government sent troops to restore its former authority. Harry was conscripted into the Dutch army and sent to Indonesia. An estimated 150,000 Indonesians and 5,000 Dutch soldiers were killed in the ensuing conflict. Harry witnessed horrible atrocities in Indonesia which he rarely spoke of, but he credited his love for Ann, and the hope of their future marriage, for his survival. International pressure forced the Dutch to concede independence in 1949. Canada, facing its own labour shortage after World War II, accepted Dutch war veterans for immigration. There was never a doubt for either Ann or Harry that Canada would be their future.
The Canada-bound Dutch veterans were transported back to Holland. Harry formally proposed to Ann in 1951 before boarding the ship to Canada to pave the way for his future bride. Harry landed in Halifax and worked as a labourer in farms and factories in Nova Scotia and Ontario. By late in 1953, they had both saved enough money to pay for Ann’s plane fare and buy a small house on Troy Street in Port Credit (now Mississauga) Ontario. Ann and Harry married on December 26, 1953 in Port Credit, soon after her arrival in Canada.
Ann taught herself English by studying every word she encountered. She became a voracious reader of fiction, non-fiction and the newspaper and developed an intense interest in politics. Ann and Harry’s hard work together, in all aspects of life, allowed them to raise their four children with Ann as a “stay-at-home” mom. Together they built a solid family and a comfortable healthy lifestyle with good housing, clothing and good food on the table for meals.
Ann and Harry enjoyed card nights; Sunday family drives to visit with friends and relatives; socializing with friends and relatives at the Dutch Canadian Country Club; and the annual family camping vacations. Ann enjoyed crafts including cross stitch, needlepoint, embroidery, and crocheting. She was very proud of her third place prize for one piece she entered at the Royal Canadian Agricultural Fair.
Among Ann and Harry’s proudest achievements was their Canadian Citizenship. First and foremost they were Canadians, but they never missed an opportunity to proudly proclaim their Dutch heritage. Ann and Harry purchased their “cottage” at Six Mile Lake in 1970. It was bought as a “fixer-upper” but it soon became clear that it was actually a “tear-down." As her children got older and developed their own separate lives, Ann was always at her happiest at the cottage, picking blueberries and spending time tending to her wild flowers and vegetable garden.
Following Harry’s death, Ann sold the Hindhead Road house and moved into a small 1 bedroom apartment at Hillside Place. There she not only made many friends and engaged in many of the activities for seniors, but also thrived in her happiness and independence. Her Hillside Place neighbours saved the ends of their knitting yarn with which Ann created spectacular crocheted afghans which were auctioned for a local women’s shelter. Her only moments of sadness came when she thought about Harry and Bill. She missed them both greatly.
Ann’s life experiences gave her a unique, selfless perspective on life. She didn’t care too much about material things. She was always very satisfied with very little. Her capacity to give all that she was capable of far outweighed what she ever wanted to receive. In keeping with this sentiment, not long before Ann died, she simply said, “Oh well, I’m 88. I guess I’ve got nothing to complain about.”
Rest in Peace Ann, Mom, Oma
If you would like to make a charitable donation in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Ann to:
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada https://www.llscanada.org and click the “Donate Today” button, or call 1-833-222-4884.
Arrangements entrusted with Skinner and Middlebrook funeral home, Mississauga. Interment Milton.
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