Netty Van Dijk

Netty Van Dijk passed away on Monday, August 26, 2019 while on her daily walk enjoying the outdoors in Canmore. She is survived by her three loving children Saunder Van Dijk, Janette (Scott) Brown, and Monique Van Dijk, as well as her six grandchildren Fraser Brown, Max (Sable) Van Dijk, Valerie Brown, Calder Brown, Lex Van Dijk, and Remco Van Dijk. She is also survived by her sister Ethie and her brother Wim (Putzi). Netty is predeceased by her husband Lex, her sister Jenny, her mother Jeanette Honing, and her father Willem Honing.

Netty was born in Voorburg, Netherlands on September 10, 1930. Her youth was spent primarily in Den Haag, Netherlands, excluding time during the war when she was evacuated to a farm in the northern part of the Netherlands. She spent several of her teen years living there and developed a life-long friendship with Trijn Nijmijer. Netty was forever grateful for her safety during those difficult times. Netty and her close friend Elly Malessy completed their teaching degrees in Den Haag and she was teaching kindergarten when she met her husband Lex while he was on vacation from his posting in Calgary. Netty soon followed him and they were married. In Calgary they settled and raised their three children. Netty used her kindergarten teaching degree to set up the “Wildwood Kindergarten” which operated out of their home. She often had a full home with thirty children attending in the morning and another thirty children in the afternoon.

Netty was an active member of the community and became the first president of the “Wildwood Community Association”. She was a dedicated bridge player and participated in a variety of groups including the CSEG. Netty was a regular in the pools, faithfully swimming her one kilometer. She had a real zest for life. Lots of laughter, dancing, and a spicy story made for a great evening. In the later years Netty and Lex spent many winters enjoying the beaches of Hawaii and Mexico with Wim and Willy Van Dijk. As grandchildren arrived she took great pride in being an “OMA” and was known to all that way. She dearly loved her grandchildren.

Special thanks to her daughter Monique and grandson Remco for their wonderful care the last few years when OMA lived with them. A Celebration of Netty’s Life will be held at the Spruce Cliff Senior Center, 3375 Spruce Drive S.W., on Monday, September 9, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.