Theresa was born on November 15, 1935, in the village of Stroobos, the Netherlands.
The family, parents, 4 brothers and 4 sisters, immigrated to Canada in 1948 and settled in the Leamington area where Theresa completed her elementary education in a one room country school. In 1950, her adventurous father trekked the family north to Cochrane Ontario. Here Theresa became mother’s helper until in her twenties she’d had enough and after a trip to Europe, started her business career in Eaton’s order office, then moved on to National Grocers as an order clerk. In 1967 she with her youngest sister, Jayne transferred to Pembroke, ON where sister Inez was teaching at Camp Petawawa. After busy career and party life in Pembroke, Theresa and Jayne moved to Toronto where she had been accepted in the private Galasso School of Designing. Here she honed her creative design skill and upon graduating, her entrepreneurial skills came to good use. She worked with a classmate making shirts, when that ran dry she worked as a head saleslady in Stitsky’s fabric store on Bathurst street. But her industrious and entrepreneurial nature was aiming higher.
After a meeting with the CEO’s of Liberty of London, England, she convinced them that she had the necessary design skills and business smarts to open the first store, with strictly Liberty fabrics and giftware in Toronto. She designed and supervised the renovations at 122 Cumberland Street, in Yorkville and was ready to open “The London Shop” on July 30, 1985, along with Jayne as her prime sales and customer service person. But the economic slowdown and Theresa’s arthritis becoming a challenge the shop had to close in 1992.
At an early age Theresa showed her creative talents with sewing and any kind of needle work. She was a talented dress designer, gardener, entrepreneur, and active volunteer. She was self-educated by reading, listening, observing and doing. She was a blessing to her family and community as she shared her talents wherever and whenever she could. In her early retirement years she was busy designing and supervising our home renovations and continually enhancing our garden design plus volunteering at the Toronto Rehab for over 30 year.
Alas, along with her arthritis, many health issues and a stroke, her mobility and communications skills deteriorated. She lost her sense of humor and the ability to laugh at herself. The past six years were difficult. We are thankful for our health care system and services at Holland Christian Homes where she resided in Faith Manor since June 2023.
Theresa was pre-deceased by her parents, five brothers, Stan, Harry, Hielke, Casey and George. She is survived by four sisters, Pauline (Case) VanNoord, Margaret, Inez (Robert) Vanderhill, Jayne and sister in-law Jeanette (George), plus twenty one amazing nieces and nephews and their families.
We thank to the Lord for answering our prayers. Theresa passed away peacefully at the Brampton Civic Hospital with Jayne and Margaret by her side. Her faith was strong and never wavered now she will meet her saviour with no more pain and discomfort.