I am deeply moved and touched by revisiting Uncle Art's memorial page. What a beautiful family we have, filled with love, affection, pride, silliness and so much history. Thank you for uploading all these wonderful pics and keeping the memories alive. How I miss those that have gone and it's nice to take a walk down memory lane every once in a while. Thank you everyone who contributed to make this page so wonderful. Love to everyone, Yvonne.

God Bless you Uncle Art, and your wonderful wife too. I miss you so much.

My favorite thing to do for my Uncle Art was to bake for him. He really loved sweet things and I just loved to see him enjoy what I baked. When I baked my father a birthday cake, it was my Uncle Art who had two pieces and told me waht a good job I did. 

The day we buried Uncle Art, my cousin Shawn came to the car window when we pulled up to the Resurrection Cemetery where he was buried with his beautiful wife Anna. Shawn knew I had baked lemon cookies for them, and he asked for one. I figured he needed one to help deal with all the terrific sadness but no, he wanted to bury a cookie with my Uncle Art. I was very touched and proud to have my baking go with my Uncle to Heaven. God bless you Uncle Art and Auntie Ann. God bless your children, Marielle and Tim, their spouses , Shawn and Conchita, and that beautiful grandchild of yours, Danielle. Sending love xo

Art taught me organization was a good thing, with the way he set up his tool shop in the basement. every tool that hung on the peg board was outlined, you could see in an instant what belonged where and what was missing. The bits and bobs like the nuts and bolts all resided in rows of baby food jars whose lids were screwed on to a rotating spindle so that in a glance you could find what little part you needed. He taught me that my hands were creative and i could build what i could dream and think of. The love he poured into building airplane swings and little houses for us to play with showed that.

Your dad, my god father, is such a big part of me, that he will never be missed. He has been with me, guiding me along for years now. I feel his influence all the time coming from within. Maybe it is because I too like him decided to pick up and try somewhere else. Maybe it is just that our family has been such a closely knitted group that we are ingrained into each other. I honestly feel the presence of all of you in me all the time. Every day my mom and dad come to me, most days visions of yvonne, rick and cynthia find there ways into my head and cousins, carol, steve, brian, lynn, mark and john, bruce, marielle, shawn, tim and conchita, i think of each and every one of you at least once a week, if not once a day i see your smiles and warmth inside me. Aunt Harriet and Netty you absolutely glow with kindness and the embraces of Uncle Tim, Ted and aunt anne i feel wrapped around me, help protect me from whatever would try and ail me. 

Because of all of you, i am blessed to be in a sheltered bubble of goodness that is wrapped about me like a star trek force field. One built upon me , layer by layer, with every visit and shared experience we have had as a clan at Dymond Drive or wherever else we deemed to gather. 

I have this wonderful thing because of Art. Because he took a chance and took the lead, to land us all here together in Canada, where we all grew together, where we continue to grow in his footsteps.

I have a hero. he is your dad. if i could live and be like him.

If i could finish my life like him, i would be a truly happy contented man

i love you all and wish i was there in body with you. I truly am with you in spirit

Art

Tim, Marielle, Conchita, Danielle and Shawn...

I was shocked by Marielles phone call early Tuesday to tell me of Your Dad and Opa's Passing. Three weeks ago he was as Marielle says, the "Wal Mart Greeter" at your Moms Funeral. Full of life, happy as a clam, saying hello to everyone who happened by. My image of him that day from the various descriptions was one of a man bathed in innocence. Only aware of the love, caring and joy around him. He seemed truly in a peaceful, happy place. Hearing of his pneumonia on friday caused some concern, but i still had the image of strength and vitality in my mind about Art. 

While i was shocked by the news (thank you again Marielle so very very much for taking the time to phone me personally and directly, it was indeed nice to hear you) i was never saddened. Truth be told, i was very happy for Uncle, Dad, Opa, Brother Art for going out in style. Much like our Opa, unaware of the moment coming, and enjoying life at the time. if i could be that man, that would be my one wish in life. 

Uncle, brother, Opa and Dad Art was the true pioneer of our family, picking up his roots from soil well known and comfortable, to move himself and his bride to Canada with little but gumption, courage and faith to get him started. He built his own house on Dymond Drive with his own hands and that house became "The Home" for our entire family. Throughout all the transitions our great clan has gone through, the house that Art built always stood there, unifying us, welcoming us, comforting us and re assuring us that our family has roots in Canada. Those roots started to grow for all of us in the house that Art built at dymond drive.

Art was always the leader. We all deferred to him, and in many ways, his say was the one we all we went with. He took on these roles because it was natural for him to do so. Art approached all matters in a pragmatic and practical manner. Decisions were made with cold honesty and with what only is best in mind. We can all love and remember the Volkswagen Beetles he drove and the love he gave them. Practical car for a practical man.

Another sad moment in the van Leeuwen Book of Life, of which Uncle Art played a memorable role. I love him with his gentle finger pointing, passionately making a point, excited about everything, angry over the injustices in the world, calling everything and everyone Dingha. I love you Uncle Art and I will miss you tremendously. My heart and love to you Tim, Conchita, Danielle, Marielle and Shawn. Ioxoxox

Our thoughts and prayers are with you Tim & Marielle.

What a lovely display of pictures from Art's life. He will be greatly missed at Regency. His pleasant nature, and beautiful smile were enjoyed by many. My sincere condolences at this time.

Hello all,
on behalf of my mom, here is  translation of Uncle Henk's dutch letter.  Google translate did the best it could so sorry if some parts sound a bit confusing:

And yet it was a surprise message , dear sister and brother . Tim called us around noon on to inform us that his father and our eldest brother had died. At ninety years he has reached an age that in this time is exceptional. His death was therefore a shock for me . Given his mental faculties and after the death of "his Ans" you would wish him almost as a blessing .
In our youth I -as him oudste- always followed ; he was the 'big brother' , for example, and took the lead in the period of the store in the Steegoversloot at bringing around the ' circulars ' and taking the lead of the bike on the issuing of orders to customers. He had hardly spoken accountability during the ride we made together in 1938 to Germany and Belgium. And we proved real brothers during the period of hiding in Budva at the family Meskers and then in the family van der Linden. Then came the divorce : Ardy to the army and I went to Delft and -later- to Italy and England, where he came to see me before leaving for Canada. But I looked him up in Whitby in Canada. There he formed with Ben a couple that "sponsor " was a guarantee for the arrival of the rest of the Netherlands Lion Family, including our parents. If it comes out this summary would be my contribution to the "stories" that can be told about our oldest brother as a reminder . This summary is also for you as a condolence . Ardy I remember with you and others in my daily prayers. May he rest in peace in the Lord.
Your brother, Henk_

our hearts are with you all    love bill and terry thompson

Tim, Marielle, Danielle, and family. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time of great loss. I am deeply honored to have known your parents. They are both at peace, holding hands in heaven now, watching over you.

Dear Marielle, Tim and family,
Our condolenses for the loss of your father Art.
We wish you all the best, our thoughts are with you for the coming period, sadley so short after your mother has passed away.
All the best to you all.
Love, Lex and Milly

Dear Tim and Marielle and other family members. We are sorry for the loss of your father Art, just a short while after the the loss of your beloved mother Ans. You are in our thoughts for now and the difficult times ahead.
May uncle Art rest in peace.

We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. 
Julie Chiaramonte & Timothy Allen

Our sympathy to you and your family at the loss of your father.  David and I are praying for you and you during this difficult this difficult time.

A true patriarch, who filled our lives with so many wonderful memories.  Everyone has a story, and my Uncle Art gave all of us ours when he first made his journey to Canada.  His heart was always big enough for all of us.  Will so miss my Uncle Art ??

A true patriarch, who filled our lives with so many wonderful memories.  Everyone has a story, and my Uncle Art gave all of us ours when he first made his journey to Canada.  His heart was always big enough for all of us.  Will so miss my Uncle Art

So many great memories of the family gatherings in Oshawa and Uncle Art will be missed dearly. I am always so sad to be so far away but our love and hearts are with you all during this time.   Love Brian , Diane, Brianne and Jessica

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Art Art Van Leeuwen

28 septembre 1924 – 26 janvier 2015

Oshawa Funeral Home

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