Sophia was born in Delft, the Netherlands. She was the oldest of seven children. Her parents made the decision to move the family to Canada after WW2. They eventually settled in Aylmer, Ontario, where her father and brothers went into farming. Sophia not only worked on the farms, she also worked in the Farmer’s Co-op, as well as house-cleaning services. She met Jack Van Kessel and they married in 1957. They moved to Windsor, where Jack studied for his BA in Business at the University of Windsor. Then Jack and Sophia moved their little family to Port Credit and then to Clarkson, where the family remained. They joined the Clarkson Christian Reformed church in 1968, and were active members, as well as sending their three girls to John Knox Christian School.

Sophia loved to travel. On her own, with a friend, or with tour groups, she travelled to China, Russia, Costa Rica and New Zealand. She went on cruises to Egypt and Alaska, and with her daughters to the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. The family’s greatest adventure was our move to Zambia, Africa in 1974, where we lived on the campus of the Zambia Institute of Technology for two years. We made many friends there, some of whom are still a part of our lives 50 years later.

Mum had a career in bookkeeping that began shortly after her marriage, and continued until her retirement in 2005. She loved gardening. Her rose bushes along the front picket fence of the house on Lewisham Drive were the pride of the neighbourhood. She loved playing bridge – she had many loyal partners among her church friends over 50 years, and she also played at local community centre clubs. She hosted a Book Club in her home for over 10 years, and was herself an avid reader; her favourite books were historical dramas. She tried her hand at batik and candle-making, always looking for new hobbies. Above all, she loved her family, her friends and her church. We will miss her.

Sophia was predeceased by Jack (2002) and leaves daughters Nancy, Jacky (Carl) and Monique (Neil). She leaves 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.