Lourense den Boesterd

With deep sadness we announce the passing of our dear Mom, Oma, Great-Oma, sister, aunt, and friend, Lourense (Emmy) den Boesterd (nee Visser), in Chilliwack, BC, on Friday, October 10, at the great age of 95. She was surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She was deeply loved and will be incredibly missed.

Mom was born in Oud-Beijerland, the Netherlands on May 24, 1930. She was one of seven children of the late Pieter and Annigje Cornelia Visser. Mom immigrated to Canada with her parents and five of her six siblings in 1951. She met her husband, Jan Marius den Boesterd in Agassiz, BC. They returned to the Netherlands in 1956 and were married in September that year. Two years later they returned to the Fraser Valley with their infant daughter, Francine. Their second daughter, Nancy, was born in Chilliwack in 1963.

Mom was a farm girl at heart. As children we can remember how hard she worked on their dairy farm in Agassiz; the delicious bread she baked, soup she made, and canning she did every year. She loved to knit. She loved her family fiercely. In her latter years she lived in the second home on Stephanie and Ron’s dairy farm. She loved it there, where she could keep an eye on the daily goings-on, and feel part of farm life.

Mom had a deep, unshakeable faith from which she never waivered. She taught us well.

She is survived by her daughters Francine and Nancy; by her 6 grandchildren: Stephanie (Ron), Amy, Michael, Daniel (Colleen), Carolyn (Gordon), and Lara (Dain); by 20 great-grandchildren;

by her sister, Marja Strahl, and by many nieces and nephews.

Mom was pre-deceased by her husband, Jan, in November, 1999, and by her great-grandson, Jeremy Neels, in February, 2024.

The funeral service will be held at the Reformed Congregation in North America (RCNA), 9696 Gibson Road, Chilliwack, on Friday, October 17 at 2 pm. Interment to follow at Chilliwack Cemeteries. Opportunity to offer condolences will be on Thursday, October 16, at the RCNA Church, from 7-8 pm. No flowers, by request. Donations may be made to the RCNA Homecare Fund at https://www.rcnachilliwack.ca/donations.php.

Funeral services provided by Henderson’s Funeral Home.