April 30, 2020
Mary Boer died peacefully April 30th, 2020 at the age of 102. She is survived by her children; George (Barbara), Bill (Jeanne), Elaine (Richard), Carol (Garrison), and Tom (Tess), eight grandchildren, six great grandchildren and a large extended family.
Mom was in remarkably good health for the first 100 years of her life and there were happy celebrations in 2017 to mark her 100th birthday. However, failing vision and increasing health challenges obliged her to move to the Harrison, Elim Village, Surrey. Sincere thanks are extended to care givers and staff and special thanks to Suzanne Palin who also assisted Mom.
Mom was born in Edmonton, the youngest of the nine children of Gerrit and Hendrikje Winkelaar who were immigrants from Holland to Canada. She remembered fondly the fun and chaos of living with so many brothers, one gentle sister, plus the many people who passed through their household. Mom married George Boer in 1940. The war years spelled the end of their residence in Alberta. The young couple, with their first child, settled in Vernon, B.C., which was the last army posting for Dad in 1945.
Vernon was home base for 35 years. Mom was a seamstress, a craft person and one of the original recyclers. Everywhere the family lived she made homey and comfortable. There were lots of fun activities over the years. For example, Mom and Dad found time to sing in choirs, square dance, cross country ski and to build two cabins at Mabel Lake. Retirement years were spent on their hobby farm in the Glenmore area of Kelowna, at Mabel Lake, and travelling.
Mom was a lifelong member of the Christian Church (First Christian Reformed, Edmonton; Knox Presbyterian, Vernon; St. David's Presbyterian, Kelowna), and a life member of the Women's Missionary Society. She made friends that lasted a lifetime and was the "glue" that kept many of the extended family in touch. Mom was gracious, calm, hospitable and generous. She supported many charities and was acutely aware of those needing aid. Under COVID circumstances, there is no funeral planned at this time. If you care to, please remember Mom by contributing to a charity or cause of your choice.