Obituary of Magdalena VanderPlaat

VanderPlaat, Magdalena - It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our Mom, Magdalena (Lynn) VanderPlaat on November 2, 2017.  She was born in Haarlem, the Netherlands on July 25, 1925; the only daughter of Pieter & Magdalena Adriaanse.  During WWII and at the age of 17 she joined the Dutch resistance and we grew up on stories of her numerous adventures, including a six week stay at the end of the war as a guest of Queen Wilhemina.  Many years later the Dutch government honoured her with a medal and a life long pension.  In 1952, after training as a juvenile social worker, she married Hilbert VanderPlaat and started her life as a dedicated minister's wife which eventually led to immigration to Canada in 1959.  Mom was devoted to our Dad and to us but once they retired she increasingly turned her amazing organizational and craft skills to supporting various good causes.  Through bake sales and craft fundraisers she and the other women of Evergreen Terrace raised thousands of dollars for organizations like McNally House.  Mom's boterkoek was famous and instantly sold out.  She crocheted hundreds of dolls for Doctors Without Borders and Syrian refugee children.  Her grandchildren were blessed with a beautiful layette she knitted for each of her great grandchildren.  She was single handedly responsible for ensuring Service Ontario in Grimsby remained open rather than forcing seniors to take their re-exams in St.Catharines or Hamilton and she proudly drove her Escape up until a year ago.  She sat on Evergreen Terrace's Residence Council, Welcome Committee and served as the building's librarian well into her 90's.  She took great satisfaction in completing the New York Sunday Crossword...in ink.

Mom was the much beloved wife of the late Dr. Hilbert VanderPlaat.  She leaves behind her children John Peter, Beamsville; Madine (Gordon Proudfoot), Halifax; Joanne (Carl Price), Calgary; Aletta (Dan Lorenz), Grand Rapids; and BJ (Rob VanderSteen). Grimsby.  She will also be lovingly remembered by her grandchildren Devon (Sean Fath) and Ben (Grace Zahrah) Proudfoot, Becky Dykema, Meaghan Millman (Isaiah), Stefan Dykema (Shaylene), Jordan Dykema (Kyla), Tayah McKenzie (Clay), and Joshua Price, Kathleen and Jonathon Lorenz, Alex (Candace Brouwer-Vandersteen), David, Andrew and Daniel Vandersteen.  She was thrilled to be great-grandmother to Sophie and Liam Dykema, Sam and Mia Millman, Lillian and Brooklyn Dykema, Teegan Brouwer-Garland and Eden Vandersteen. 

She was predeceased by her husband, brother Piet Adriaanse and son-in-law Kelvin Dykema.  

We would like to thank Dr. Volz and the staff of C Ward at the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital for taking such good care of Mom these last two months.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, November 8th at 11:00a.m. at Mountview Christian Reformed Church, 290 Main St. E. Grimsby, ON L3M  1P8.  There is no visitation by request.  Donations on Mom's behalf may be made to McNally House and Shalom Manor.  We love you Mom.