Hendrika "Hennie" Nyhof

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Hendrika (Hennie) Johanna Nyhof, 91, on Wednesday March 23 at Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, BC. Predeceased by her sister Mille and husband Andre, she leaves behind her sons Richard (Marilyn), Eric (Dee Dee), Mark (Rose) and grandsons Brenden and Adam.

Hennie was born in The Hague, Netherlands to Jetsche and Johan Donck on December 24, 1930. She was very close to her sister Mille and the family enjoyed happy times until 1940, when Nazi forces invaded and occupied Holland for 5 years. These were tough times but she persevered and went on to finish her basic schooling and further study that led to her work as a lab technician in nearby Leiden. It was there that Hennie met her future husband, Andre, who was studying medicine at Leiden University. The couple married and then boldly immigrated to Canada in 1954, settling in Victoria. Andre had secured a residency at Jubilee Hospital and Hennie managed to find work at a vegetable warehouse.

After a few years in Canada it was time to start a family and Hennie happily took on the role of stay-at-home mom to 3 boys. There was never a dull moment as the Nyhof house on Kendal Avenue became a hub of activity for the neighbourhood. Hennie was always there to welcome the kids that came to the house. She loved to interact but also knew when to keep her distance and had the great skill of providing guidance while letting her boys have fun and find their own way.

Summer holidays with family spent in the Okanagan and exploring the province were among her favorite memories. We will always remember her love of swimming and how quickly she could get into a lake, river or the ocean, no matter how cold the water. Hennie was dedicated to her family during this time and always talked of how much she enjoyed those days.

After her boys moved on, Hennie embarked on the next stage of her life which involved personal discovery and training at the Citizens' Counselling Centre. Time spent studying took her in many directions. She opened a small office to provide counselling services and later studied Reiki and worked at Victoria Hospice. She had a gift to connect with people at a level that made them comfortable, by being a good listener and being truly present. She had such a caring way that many people have stories of a single encounter with her that they still remember as something special.

While providing hospice care she learned of a dying man who had no family or friends and wanted to be left alone. Hennie, in her way, decided to approach him and he took to her immediately. Eventually, he told her that there was still one last thing that he wanted to do, and that was to dance. So there they were dancing in his room. Nothing was said as she held him and slowly moved about the room until he tired and returned to his bed. She then kissed him on the forehead and he smiled in return. Later that evening he passed away.

Hennie did so many things that made you realize that she was able to tap into this world in a way that most of us don’t even notice or understand. She had that gift and she used it. After receiving a terminal lymphoma diagnosis at age 60, with no option for treatment, she took to curing herself with various techniques including visualization meditation. To everyone’s amazement, including the doctors, the cancer disappeared and never returned.

During these years, much time was spent with her two grandsons who loved to come to the house. There were also good times spent with Andre, sailing, cross-country skiing and travelling in their van and motor home. These adventures days came to end when Andre began to have mobility problems. Hennie then took on the task of caring for him and they had many more good years together until Andre’s passing in the spring of 2018. They were such a good team that it wasn’t until she was on her own that it became apparent that she was experiencing the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Despite that, Hennie managed to be happy most of the time and never lost her sense of humour as the disease progressed. She was able to stay in the home she loved, aided by family and friends and the help of two wonderful ladies. A sudden illness and hospitalization proved to be her final act, providing her with a way out. During her last days and hours she was lucid. She spoke of Andre for the first time in years, and talked about going away swimming. “It was time to go,” she said, and so she went.