Obituary of Diny Wikkerink

Diny Wikkerink (nee Hoornenborg) was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands on March 22, 1932. She came to Canada in 1954 and married John a few days later on December 30. Mom loved cooking, baking, knitting, Niagara fruits and vegetables, classical music, sewing, and tending to babies. She always said you could never spoil a baby. She showed hospitality to everyone who came to our home whether they were hitch hikers with no place to stay for the night, children who needed a temporary home, or large groups of young people. Our house on Ontario Street was a busy place with people dropping by, endless renovations, family from the Netherlands visiting for extended periods of time, and kids coming to swim in our backyard pool. Mom made strong coffee, flaky pie crust, delicious soup and the best chocolate chip cookies in Beamsville. She read voraciously and our home was full of books and magazines. There was always a candy stash somewhere. Mom and Dad were at their very best when on vacation. We spent time at various cabins but they also loved taking trips. In 1973 they packed all the kids in the station wagon and drove down to Florida for the first time. This was the first of many family vacations in the south, and we all retain a certain fondness for that state based on mom and dad's early conditioning. They also travelled to the Netherlands many times, as well as other places in Europe. In 1997 they went on an epic road trip with mom's sister and brother in law to Alaska and back. They always spoke fondly of these times and encouraged us to travel whenever possible. Mom was a faithful member of Providence Christian Reformed Church and a volunteer for Meals on Wheels for 30 years. She joined John in many endeavors for the Beamsville Lion's Club. She was the first to make a meal when someone was sick or in need. Diny is survived by John, her husband of almost 60 years, as well as her family in the UK and the Netherlands. She will be fondly missed by her children John and Tena, Linda and Wes, Yvonne and George, Bert and Teresa, and Michele and Robert as well as 19 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. They were her pride and joy. Visitation will be held at Providence Christian Reformed Church in Beamsville, Ontario on Wednesday, from 2-4 pm and 7-8:30. Family interment service will be held at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens prior to the Memorial service which will be held at Providence Christian Reformed Church at 11 am on Thursday, March 6, 2014. Memorial donations may be made to Linhaven Care Home in St. Catharines, Ontario. You may send flowers. Mom loved flowers.