Anna Lidwina Louise Chia (née Zaal)

Born in Hengelo, the Netherlands, Anna spent her childhood in Amsterdam during the war years. Life under Nazi occupation left indelible memories: a primary school turned into German barracks, her mother weakened to only 73 pounds during the Hunger Winter, and meals of beets and potato peels boiled in water. These experiences shaped her humility, her deep appreciation for life’s blessings, and her lifelong distaste for beets and Brussels sprouts. Despite the hardship, she carried those years with humour, sharing countless stories of wartime mischief and survival.

Anna was the middle child of three, and she cherished her siblings deeply. Her older sister Magda and her younger brother Wim – both predeceased – were constant companions during their years growing up in the Netherlands. She loved them dearly, and their bond remained an important part of her life and memories.

As a young woman, Anna married by proxy to her first husband, Tjia Kian Tie, and began a life that spanned continents. They lived in the Netherlands, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and eventually Vancouver, with regular stays in Hong Kong and Bali. Her life was at times glamorous – parties in Jakarta as Kian Tie oversaw what would become Indonesia’s largest company – yet she always retained her Dutch pragmatism and simplicity. Strong coffee in the morning, a walk on the seawall, and a generous glass of red wine in the evening were her favourite luxuries. Later in life, she found joy and relaxation in frequent trips to Maui, a place that became a beloved retreat.

Anna endured profound challenges: the early unexpected passing of Kian Tie when she was still in her forties, raising four children on her own through those difficult years, surviving a debilitating stroke in her fifties, and later the loss of her second husband. Each time, she met adversity with remarkable strength and determination, teaching her family the importance of perseverance, faith, and unity.

She was a woman of contrasts: a tough mother with high expectations, yet warm and funny; a woman of deep faith, yet never without her evening glass of wine. She was fiercely proud of being “from Amsterdam,” though her children never let her forget she was actually born in Hengelo. Her four children may have tested her patience in their younger years, but her love for them never wavered—and in time, they came to admire her strength, her stubbornness, and her quiet wisdom. Mahjong was one of her fondest pastimes—not for the winnings, but for the pride of victory, which she relished. She adored Indonesian and Italian food, often proposing pasta dinners, though she firmly insisted, “I am not a fish person.”

Family was always at the centre of her life. Nothing, in her mind, should come before it. She was deeply proud of her four children – Marcel (Elizabeth), Francis (Tina), Marya (Robert), and Christian (Carol) – her nine grandchildren, Michelle, Christian, Dominic, Danielle, Sebastiaan, Bridget, Aydan, Ethan, and Dylan, and her great-grandchild Henry.

Anna’s life was filled with stories: being beaten up by thugs in Bandung, her terrible handwriting, endless tales of Amsterdam, and her high-spirited years in Jakarta with a household of helpers and drivers. Through all the ups and downs – war, loss, success, illness, rebellious children, and joy – she remained humble, grounded in her Dutch roots, and devoted to the people she loved.

She will be remembered as a loyal friend, a strong mother, a loving grandmother, and a caring sister. Above all, she will be remembered for her spirit – a woman who, no matter the challenge, always found the strength to persevere.

Oma dedicated her life to her family and will be missed forever by:

Children & spouses:

Marcel & Elizabeth Tjia

Francis Tjia & Tina Deng

Marya Chia & Robert Moskowitz

Christian & Carol Chia

Grandchildren & Partners:

Michelle Tjia

Christian Tjia & Cassia Baker

Dominic & Bernice Tjia

Danielle Tjia

Sebastiaan Chia

Bridget Chia

Aydan Moskowitz

Ethan Moskowitz

Dylan Tjia

Great-grandson:

Henry Tjia

Anna will be greatly missed, but will forever be in our hearts.

Funeral Mass

Thursday, September 4, 2025 - 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, St. Francis de Sales Parish

Viewing

Thursday, September 4, 2025 – 5:00pm to 7:00pm, Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel

Friday, September 5, 2025 – 8:00am to 8:45am, Forest Lawn Funeral Home Visitation Room

Funeral Service

Friday, September 5, 2025 – 9:00am to 10:00am, Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel