MARIE JACQUELINE SCHRAM

With heavy hearts, we announce that Marie passed away in the early hours of April 4, 2022 in Concordia Place just days after her 87th birthday.

Marie is survived by Simon, her husband of 64 years; children Ingrid (Barry), Jacqueline (Bob) and Ronald (Jacqueline); grandchildren, Jennifer, Sage and Hudson; sister Gerda; brother-in-law Pieter; nieces and nephews Fred (Mar), Renie, René (Diana), Marijke (Joop); as well extended family and friends.

Marie was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, At the age of 17 she met her future husband, Simon. Simon and Marie were married in 1957, and enjoyed the first two and a half years of married life in Amsterdam living with Simon’s grandmother (Opoe), due to housing shortages in the Netherlands at the time. In 1958 they welcomed their first daughter, Ingrid. In 1960, in search of a better life and greater opportunity, they immigrated to Canada to settle in Winnipeg near friends that had immigrated before them.

In 1961, Marie and Simon celebrated the arrival of their second daughter, Jacqueline. In 1963, they were very proud to buy a small home on Sutton Ave in North Kildonan where they happily raised their growing family. In fact, later that year a third child, their only son, Ronald, was born.

In addition to being a proud wife, mother and homemaker, Marie secured piece-work that allowed her to work from home for a garment company manufacturing winter coats, supplementing the family income for home improvements and family vacations. Over the years the entire family made several return trips back to The Netherlands. About 1974 Marie accepted an evening custodial aide position at River East Collegiate, where she worked until retirement in 1990.

From the time they first arrived in Canada and being so far from family, Simon and Marie cherished special times with friends; entertaining one another in their homes, camping, travelling and becoming very involved with the Dutch Canadian Society’s monthly dances, card club and bowling league. They enjoyed showing off their adopted country to family from Holland when they had the chance to visit, the Canadian wilderness holding a special place in everyone’s heart.

One amazing project that Marie tackled was the sewing of the tent portion of a home-built tent trailer which provided the family many years of great joy. Marie was very adept at many crafts. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, crochet, and particularly cross-stitch. Many of her cross-stitch projects were framed and proudly grace the walls of the family home. As the children grew up, moved out and started their own lives Marie loved to visit all of them wherever they were living at the time, as well as entertaining them whenever they returned home. Marie was the glue that held the family together. She loved to plan special events, elaborate dinners and was score-keeper par excellence for the many, many evenings spent together playing games until the wee hours of the morning.

As empty nesters, Marie and Simon, in the company of life-long friends enjoyed summers at Petersfield Campground, travelled throughout the United States with their travel home, spent several winters as snow-birds in Arizona, and explored Canada using Simon’s rail pass. One particularly special trip was a European bus tour which Marie carefully documented and left her with many fond memories.

In recent years Marie was diagnosed with dementia. In the summer of 2021, she fractured her hip in a fall during a walk. After she healed it was determined to be unsafe for her to return to her beloved family home. Marie lived out her life in personal care until she peacefully slipped away with Simon by her side.

The family would like to extend sincere thanks and appreciation to the staff of St. Norbert Care Home and Concordia Place for their kind and compassionate care of Marie for the past months and also for their considerate dealings with the family when we came to visit.

Marie’s family kindly requests that all of her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by sharing photos, memories, and stories, using the comment section on this page.

In accordance with the Marie’s wishes, cremation has taken place and no formal service will be held. The family suggests that those wishing to do so, make a donation to the charity of their choice in Marie’s name.

​

ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

​