Obituary of Geertje van den Hof

van den Hof (Beukema), Geertje “Gertie”-of Milford.

The family sadly announces the sudden, but peaceful passing of a beautiful mother, grandmother and great grandmother on February 11, 2021 at home. Born on February 16, 1928 in the Netherlands she was a daughter of Jan and Geertje (Van-Dijk) Beukema.

Geertje spent her early years in Driel, Netherlands with her parents and five siblings. As a teenager, she lived through WWII fleeing to safety in Belgium. She worked in retail where she met the love of her life, Ben van den Hof. Shortly after marriage they immigrated to Canada where they worked initially as farm labourers in the Annapolis Valley. They eventually obtained their own farm in Milford Station.

Besides all the hard work on the farm, Geertje loved to have fun. She enjoyed cooking Dutch treats and always had a big pot of soup on the stove every Sunday. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting and was an accomplished oil painter. She competed in a bowling league for 35 years, was an avid swimmer and card player (many fun games with her Dutch neighbours, Marie Huybers, Mary Eikelenboom and Ann Vissers). She and Ben had lots of fun travelling with family and friends back to Holland and across Canada and the US. Geertje was a long-time member of the Milford United Church and a member of the UCW for many years and enjoyed participating in the church activities.

She is survived by her loving children, Erie (Rod Ogden), Michiel (Cathy MacDougall) and John (Patty Thibault); her grandchildren who she loved dearly, Alec, Corey, and Garrett Ogden, Adam Smith, Ryan, Nicholas and Alyssa van den Hof; Megan, Anneke and Colin van den Hof, she also has 8 wonderful great grandchildren; brother, Marinus and sister, Margje (Jaap).

She was predeceased by her husband, Ben in 2008; brothers, Klaas and Jaap; sister, Albertje and granddaughter, Heather.

A funeral service will be held at 12 noon on Monday, February 15 in Ettinger Funeral Home, 2812 Highway 2, Shubenacadie, Rev. Gerry Kerr officiating.  Live stream of the service may be viewed at https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=d92d14af-6d3d-4b2e-ae69-7b16605c3e09

Memorial donations may be made to the Milford-Lantz United Church or to the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Condolences, words of comfort and memories of Geertje may be shared with the family at www.ettingerfuneralhome.com