Judith Lokhorst

Judith was born in post-WWI Rotterdam, Netherlands into a Christian family. Her father, a Christian Jew, was a minister in the Dutch Reform Church. Unfortunately, Judith’s family faced the atrocities that WWII brought to Jews throughout Europe. When she was 9 her family was removed from their home in Rotterdam and sent first to Camp Vught, then to Westerbork transit camp and eventually she, with most of the family, was transferred to the Terezin concentration camp in Czechoslovakia. Miraculously, and due to the heroic efforts of her father on several occasions, the family survived the war intact and started a new life in The Hague.

Judith met Guy when they were in high school and eventually, after they married in 1959, Judith immigrated to Canada to join Guy as she, once again, started a new life, this time in a country far from family and friends. She adapted well, willingly following Guy all over the western provinces and as far south as California as he built his career, and she nurtured their growing family. In the span of her life, Judith and Guy lived in 12 towns and cities before finally settling in Victoria in 2004.

In 1970, while living in Elkford, a company town in southeastern B.C., Judith joined an all-female team of volunteer firefighters. She was one of the first female firefighters in Canada. She was also an active and serving member of different Christian congregations in many of the towns she lived in and continued serving at the Cordova Bay United Church until the onset of Covid. She also turned her attention to painting for a time and produced several works that are cherished by her family.

There was no question that Judith loved her family. With 3 sons she was overjoyed to welcome daughters-in-law into the family who she accepted without reservation and whom she loved as daughters. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her particular happiness. She loved to hold each new baby when they would meet for the first time. Fortunately, she met the latest addition to the family just a few months ago.

Judith is survived by her husband Guy, sons Brian (Nancy), David (Katherina), Robin (Jeff), grandchildren Janice (Dan), Dan, Bethany (Merrill), Jon (Britt), Deb (Mike), Rebecca, Ben, Josh and great-grandchildren Lia, Zane, Aubrey, Penny, Tanner, Brooklyn, Gabe and Jack.

A celebration of Judith’s life for family and friends will take place at a later date.