Wilhelmina "Wilma" Clasina van Harmelen

Wilhelmina (Wilma) Clasina Van Harmelen (née Jacobs) was born on May 1, 1940, in Scheveningen, the Netherlands, the only child of IJgbert and Johanna (Truus) Jacobs and sister-in-law to Egbert and Nel Van Harmelen. She was born just ten days before the outbreak of World War II in the Netherlands. On June 6, 1961, Wilma married Maarten Van Harmelen.

They began their family in Scheveningen, where their sons Peter and Bert were born, living on the second floor of a home with Wilma’s parents and grandmother on the first—a "full house" that remained a fond memory of their early years together.

On December 29, 1969, seeking a new start, Wilma and Maarten moved with their two young sons to Canada, settling in Bowmanville, Ontario. Wilma was a woman defined by a relentless work ethic. She and Maarten always worked side-by-side, first in the greenhouses in Bowmanville and later as the owners of Flowers by Penrose in Oshawa. They ran the store together for 26 years before selling the business in 1998.

Wilma was a long-time, faithful member of Hebron Christian Reformed Church in Whitby, ON. She was deeply committed to her community and spent her retirement years in service to others. She was a dedicated volunteer for Bibles for Mission and spent countless, tireless hours at Gate 3:16, a drop-in centre for the homeless in Oshawa. Doing whatever was needed to keep the centre operating was a true labour of love for her.

Beyond her work, Wilma had a deep interest in the lives of those around her. She enjoyed knowing what was going on in the world and stayed connected through Facebook in her later years, often checking to see the updates and "reactions" from friends and family. Following a fall in July 2025, Wilma’s strength steadily declined until she was called home to her Lord on March 23, 2026, passing peacefully at Lakeridge Health in Oshawa.

Wilma was predeceased by her husband, Maarten, in 2016. She is survived by her sons, Peter (Rachel) and Bert (Glenda). She was the grandmother of Erin (Jordache), Chris (Shianne), Marissa (Colin), Ashleigh, Annie, and Andrew, and the great-grandmother of Ella and Audrey.

The family expresses their sincere appreciation to the care team at Lakeridge Health for their support and kindness.

Visitation will take place at Oshawa Funeral Home, 847 King Street West, Oshawa, ON L1J2L4, CA, on April 10, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 8:00pm.

A service of celebration of Wilma's life will be held at 11:00am at Hebron Christian Reformed Church, 4240 Anderson St, Whitby, ON L1R 3P6, on April 11, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.