Siena Ancker

Siena Ancker, age 96 passed away on Sunday, April 20, 2025. Born in De Kwakel, Holland on September 17, 1928 to Jans (Scouten) and Joe Westerbos, Siena was the 5th of 7 children. Her father started the family business Westerbos Breads of which all of the children played a role. Siena and her siblings would be a common site in the village and along the Amstel River pedaling the bicycle with the bread box on top selling and making deliveries of bread and baked goods. Like many dutch people, she lived through the tough times of World War II and the german occupation of Holland. She participated in gymnastics and attended sewing school in Tehrar after the war. She met the love of her life Theo on June 10, 1951 at a birthday party for his brother who happened to be marrying Siena’s sister. They were engaged on June 7, 1952, married on June 16, 1954 and on June 23 they embarked on the adventure of immigrating to Canada….They left on the ship The Groete Bear, and life was never the same. They always resided in Acton, occupying residences on Church Street and then above the store at the corner of River & Mill streets before buying the home they lived in for the rest of their lives on Main Street across from the library. She worked in a factory just outside of town for a time, at the P.L. Robertson screw factory in Milton, at a dress making factory in Guelph, and then worked as housekeeper for the town doctor, Doctor Garret, until she and Theo started their family in 1960. She was an avid cook, baker and seamstress, sewing many of the kids’ clothes for a time. When the children got older she also worked many years as the custodian for the Acton Public Library and the Veterinarian across the street from their house. Siena and Theo raised 3 children; Charlie, Shirley and Peggy, providing an idyllically earthy and simple childhood experience. They provided a welcoming household, evidenced by the kids’ friends frequently over to play and ‘hang out’. She and Theo were avid gardeners, growing all the fruit (apples, pears, melons) and vegetables to sustain them through the entire year. The house was also surrounded by beautiful flower gardens. When the children moved on and Theo retired after 30 years of employment with Ford Motor Co, they travelled… back to Holland, to Germany, France and other parts of Europe, to Australia, and to Japan. They bought an RV and travelled out East and out West in both Canada and the U.S.A. One of their favourite activities was playing klaverjas (dutch card game) with friends, at home or at the card club in Georgetown, or at tournaments elsewhere. Winter months each year were spent in Zephyr Hills, Florida where they made many friends. They were an epic pair and had so many fun times together. When Theo passed away in 2007, Siena soldiered on. Her friends in town know of her very friendly and giving demeanor. She regularly received friends and visitors to the house, and the back patio in the summer. She always had time for everybody. She continued on with the garden, although downsizing it over the years with the last green bean grown in 2022 at the age of 93. She often would provide extra vegetables from the garden to friends and residents at the seniors residence on Elizabeth Drive. Many a friend would show up at her invitation to pick pears from her trees or pick rhubarb from her massive patch (which lives on to this date)! She was a proud Oma of 5 grandchildren Matthew, Christopher, Risa, Emily, Erina; and loved to have them visit. The children and grandchildren particularly loved Oma’s stewed rhubarb, potatoes and snijbone (dutch green slicing beans). Once on her own, Siena became a regular attendee at events at the Acton Seniors Centre. She went on a number of trips with other travellers from the centre, the last being an epic cruise from Vancouver to Alaska. She was a keen competitive carpet bowler, winning a number of tournaments, and also enjoyed shuffleboard, euchre and lunches. She often stated she did not know what she would do without the centre. Many thanks to the Centre Staff and to her friends for providing her with this companionship and these fun and worthwhile activities.

Living in the Main Street home until her passing… Siena continued to enjoy visits from her children, grandchildren and friends. She drove a stickshift car and only recently at the age of 96 did she stop driving. She was an avid reader, liked to do word search and play cards. Visits to Mom’s/Oma’s always included lots of chitchat, tea, cookies, chocolate, games (2 handed solitaire, skippo and rummicube) and a healthy serving of her favorite Port wine, Tawny 74! ……The last few years she picked up on puzzling and would spend hours each day putting puzzles together. She would tell you she was addicted to it, LOL. Although bothered by wonky knees and the affects of aging, she never complained or let it limit her activities. She was a kind & wonderful mother, oma and friend and will be dearly missed.

Many thanks to the staff at Milton District Hospital for their kind and attentive care.

A visitation will be held at Mackinnon Family Funeral Home 55 Mill St. E., Acton, on Sunday, April 27, 2025 from 2:00 - 5:00 PM. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph Patron of Canada Parish, 64 Church St E., Acton, on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. Interment at Fairview Cemetery to follow.