ANTONIA (TOOS) JANSEN

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our so very much-loved mother and Oma Antonia (Toos) Jansen at Grace Hospital on January 6, 2024.  Mom was predeceased by her husband and soulmate of 65 years John (Jan) in July 2023.

Mom will be remembered and deeply missed by her children John (Janice), Diane, Rick (Laura), Darlene (Randy), Bob (Alyson), grandchildren, Ian, Tom, Hannah (Derek), Attyah (Jason), Emma (Brenden) and great grandson Walker. She will also be remembered and missed by her sister Mieke and her in-laws Kees, Anne, Bill, Frank (Wendy), Elizabeth (Andre) and Corrie. Mom was predeceased by her parents Leonardus and Christine, her sisters Plony and Mary, brothers Martin, Cornie and Frank as well as several in laws.

Mom was born on January 16, 1933 in Den Hoorn the Netherlands.  She was the middle child of seven children.  Even though mom grew up during the difficult war years in Holland, she still enjoyed many happy times with her sisters and brothers.  The family immigrated to Canada in the 1950’s and settled in Letellier, Manitoba.  The family worked on a farm harvesting sugar beets for two years.  Mom’s life-long love for children was evident early on as she often looked after the farmer’s children while the rest of the family worked in the fields.  It was a difficult introduction to life in Canada for the family as they had to endure long hours working and their first winter in Canada in an uninsulated shed with no running water.

Mom met the love of her life Jan, shortly after arriving in Canada and they were married on July 12, 1958.  The couple welcomed five children into their family.  Family was extremely important to mom and she was always happiest when surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Her grandchildren knew that Oma was the boss and would often tell their parents this when Oma was sneaking them treats.

Mom did not care where she was as long as she was with her family, but one of her favorite places to be was the family cottage at West Hawk Lake.   Her grandchildren grew up at the lake and many an early morning mom would be up walking with a grandchild in their stroller letting the parents sleep in.  She was the one that got up at night to stoke the fire so that the cabin stayed nice and warm and she was the first one up to start the coffee and bacon - the delicious smells quickly waking up the rest of us. She would often cook up hot dogs and other treats to bring down to the beach so that her grandchildren would not have to return to the cabin for lunch.

Mom loved to play games, cards and puzzles.  Many a night was spent at the cottage playing cards with her children and grandchildren.  Mom could be quite competitive in her quiet way and she wasn’t above cheating a little bit now and then much to one of her grandson’s amazement.  There was much laughter on game nights which will be really missed. Mom bowled for many years and in the later years she learned how to play Wii Bowling and bocce ball.  She was an avid reader and loved doing puzzles.  She could do a crypto quote in no time which was an amazing feat given that English was not her first language. She loved visits to the casino and her weekly Friday wine get togethers with the apartment ladies.

Mom was an amazing cook and cooked Sunday dinners for her family well into her eighties.  Thanksgiving dinners at the cottage were looked forward to and of course mom welcomed everyone.  The more the merrier for her.  She made the best roast beef dinners and dutch croquettes. Her daughters are still to trying to replicate her croquette recipe.  Christmas was her favorite time of year and she probably held on to spend one more Christmas surrounded by her family.  Mom loving decorating her home for Christmas and would set beautiful tables for Christmas dinner and breakfast. In the later years she looked forward to going on the annual Christmas house tours with her daughters. She has passed down her love of Christmas to her daughters and granddaughters who will continue the traditions that she started.

Mom loved to travel and made many trips with dad back to Holland. In the early years the family enjoyed the annual trip to Grand Forks and in the later years mom enjoyed several trips with her children to Hawaii, Mexico, Palm Springs and the Caribbean. 

With her children grown and leaving the nest mom began to volunteer more.  She volunteered for several years at Victoria hospital and she quietly washed the alter server robes at her church for many years.  She volunteered with the social committee at her apartment and would help out wherever she was needed.

Mom was a woman of faith. She prayed the rosary often and you could always find a rosary in her purse and on her bedside table.  You could often hear her praying to Saint Antonius when she could not find something. This prayer was said many a Christmas when she forgot where she had hidden a gift.  Miraculously the gifts were always found.  She instilled this faith in her children and grandchildren. She was a Catholic Women’s League member for many years.

Our mom was a mom or Oma to everyone.   So many of our relatives and friends have told us that mom was a second mom to them.   All of her grandchildren’s friends called her Oma and our house growing up was always filled with all the neighbourhood kids.  Everyone was always welcome at our home or cottage.  We called her the baby whisperer because she could calm even the most upset crying child and everyone consulted with our mom whenever they were dealing with a sick child.  She would have been a wonderful nurse.  She was a quiet lady who often stayed in the background but she always checked on everyone and made sure that you knew that she was thinking about you.

Mom was a peacemaker and loved unconditionally.  We all knew that our mom would never judge us no matter what we did.  There was always a kind word and an I love you after every good night or phone call.  We grew up knowing how much we were loved by her and hopefully she also knew how much she was loved by all of us. She sacrificed greatly for us and would often go without to ensure that her children were taken care of.  She has left such a tremendous hole in all of hearts that will never be filled.  She will be missed so very much.  Last July our family chain was broken when our dad passed away.  This January the strongest links of our family chain have been joined again.  One day the chain will be fully restored.

The family would like to extend their appreciation to the staff of Grace Hospital Emergency, as well as to the WRHA Self and Family Managed Care program and Home Instead who allowed us to keep mom at home.  The family will be forever grateful to our healthcare workers Woinnie, Baljeet, Rajdeep, Finan, Iryna, Aminat and Adrienne for the kindness and respect you showed mom over the years.  The family would also like to thank her sister Mieke, who called or visited with mom every week in the last years and would often bring a smile to her face.

Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Saturday January 13, 2024 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Victory Memorial Church, 249 Arnold Ave. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Society of Manitoba.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

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