Anne Marie Posthuma

Born November 4, 1925 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, her joys as a child included tennis, swimming, drama, music and close friendships. Her adolescence was severely impacted by the deprivation resulting from the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II. Following the war, she completed a master’s degree in pharmacology at the University of Utrecht, where she also met her future husband.

She immigrated to the United States in 1958 and to Canada in 1972. She was a devoted mother of four, treasured “Oma” of nine grandchildren, and great-grandmother of three, many of whom enjoyed a steady stream of knitted baby blankets, sweaters, mitts and hats. An accomplished pianist, she also nurtured her children’s love of music.

She loved her many vegetable and flower gardens, in particular her one-acre property in Courtenay which she transformed into a unique display of foxgloves, wild irises, lupines, evening primrose and dozens of other varieties of wildflowers. An ardent swimmer, she thought nothing of swimming nearly two kilometres in nearby lakes, even past the age of 70. She also loved walking, exploring waterfront trails and beaches wherever she lived. Her work at the crisis centre in Courtenay was just one of the ways she enjoyed helping others. Her life reflected her Dutch identity, and she ensured that her children learned to read and write her native language.

Predeceased by her former husband Sicco, and siblings Jan and Walter.

Will be much missed by children Anne (Ed), Titia (Tom), Hans (Linda) and Els (Glenn); grandchildren Triona (Mike), Lia (Dean), Sarah (Brennan), Claire, Ruth, Eric, Christy, Heather and Laura; and great-grandchildren Anna, Ava and Ben. A private opportunity for family to celebrate Anne Marie’s life will take place at a later date.

“Old gardeners never die, they just spade away.”