In Loving Memory of

Jane Brouwer

of Edmonton
Jun 24, 1935 - Jun 21, 2018

On June 21, at the age of 82, in Edmonton, Alberta, Jane went home to her Lord and Saviour after a brief struggle with cancer.

Jane was born Jannigje Wilhelmina Klazina on June 24, 1935. She was the eldest daughter of Francina and Hendrices (Henk) Van Reede in Nijkerk, The Netherlands.

As a child and youth in The Netherlands, Jane went to school and finished through to grade 6. She then went to work in the family bakery, making deliveries on her bike. In 1955, at the age of 19, Jane met the first love of her life Adriaan Brouwer, in Doorn, The Netherlands. At the time, the Van Reede family was already planning their emigration and a short couple of months later, Jane was crossing the Atlantic on the Groote Beer. The Van Reedes settled in the Jasper Place area of Edmonton where Jane found employment as a domestic home worker. She spoke fondly to us of her employers Mr. and Mrs. Morin.

Months later, Adriaan followed Jane to Canada and on April 26, 1957, She and Adriaan were married. Together they started their family and over the span of their 44 years together they were blessed with 7 children, followed by 13 Grandchildren.

Love and laughter in the home was her trademark. Mom was an amazing and dedicated mother and homemaker, always putting the needs of her family first. We never went without touques, mitts and scarves in the winter, always got new matching dresses in the spring, and new PJs at Christmas. She sewed graduation and bridesmaid dresses, repaired almost any kind of clothing, and even darned Dad's work socks. She canned and froze mountains of beans, peas, endive and whatever else she could harvest from the garden. We always had shelves full of preserves, and two large chest freezers loaded with bags of fruit and vegetables. She's folded enough laundry to reach the moon, and fried so many Oli Bollen and Apple Flappen they would fill a hockey rink. A great cook, baker, hostess, seamstress and knitter, she passed many of these skills on to us.

Never one to do anything half-hearted, Mom was all-in, or not at all. She involved herself in the church wherever she could, and loved getting together with the Dutch Ladies Society call Onze Roeping – which means "Our Calling". In later years she responded to a different call and served as a church Elder.

Mom was instrumental in the formation of REHOBOTH, A Christian Association for The Mentally Handicapped of Alberta (now known as Rehoboth Christian Ministries). Her love and passion for this cause resulted in several years of service to the organization doing anything that was needed. This included many years of serving as a Founding Board Member, organizing fundraisers, and front line volunteering at annual bedding plant sales, bazaars, and craft sales.

With a love of learning, and a talent for sewing , Mom went to NAIT where she took a course in Pattern Drafting for Fashion. Eventually, she shared her seamstress talents with others in the church and local communities by opening her own shop called Jane's Garment Care and Repair just down the street from our home. The shop lasted several years and as Dad prepared to retire, an opportunity to serve Rehoboth in a new capacity presented itself. Dad retired, Mom closed up her shop, and together they moved to Camp Rehoboth as Property Caretakers.

Dad passed away on Nov 8, 2001 and a short time later, Mom moved to Lacombe where she lived on her own for 3 years. Wanting to be closer to her kids and grandkids, Mom moved to an apartment in St. Albert. During this time Mom's family continued to grow, and with the addition of several great-grandchildren Mom was blessed with even more people to love.

In 2010, Mom met the man who would be the next love of her life, Bill Navis. Each of them were guests at a milestone anniversary celebration of mutual friends. Mom and Bill's relationship blossomed and they were married on Oct 8, 2011. The family surrounding her grew once more with the addition of the Navis clan. Mom and Bill settled in to Bill's home in Sherwood Park where together they enjoyed visiting with family, gardening, travelling, bowling and many other activities. This time was a true blessing to Mom. We are thankful that she had Bill's love and companionship in her last years.

Mom's strong faith in God was demonstrated each and every day of her life. Her joy in the Lord, and the love she had for her family, was easy to see in the twinkle in her eyes, the song in her voice, and her welcoming smile. She was a devoted servant of the Lord and worked tirelessly for the sake of others. In her last days, she loved to listen to and sing along with her favourite hymns. She was at peace as she had the Bible and devotionals read to her. Our Mom was a great gift from God and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her. We are so thankful that she is with Jesus and rejoicing in her new life.

Mom was preceded in death by her first Husband, Adriaan Brouwer, and her parents, Henk and Francina VanReede.

Mom will be lovingly remembered by her second Husband, Bill Navis, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Annette and Peter Reedyk – Belleville, ON Michelle Frankfurter - Camillus, NY Maddison Jason and Jennifer Reedyk – Vernon, BC Mya, Alyssa, Paige Leanne and Jay Dupuis – Killaloe, ON Jacob, Isaac, Jeremy Frances Brouwer – Stony Plain, AB Jane and Dana Dyck – Calgary, AB Adrianna and Adam Scharmann – Morinville, AB Tyler Rob and Chandra Dyck – Calahoo, AB Reegan, Sophie Kristina and Taylor Cartwright – Cold Lake, AB Andre and Carol Brouwer – Claresholm, AB Rita and Vern Boonstra - Sherwood Park, AB Jennifer and Rob Billheimer – Edmonton, AB Laura, Adrian Jasmine and Thomas Rogers – Edmonton, AB Dustin and Serena Boonstra – Sherwood Park, AB Annalie, Darian, Wesley, Yvaine Judy and Mark Dalmaijer – Winnipeg, MB Katie, Trevor Marina and Rob Nederlof – Wawanesa, MB Kira, Ethan

Stepchildren and step-grandchildren Henry and Heather Navis – Calgary, AB Leanne, Kevin John and Sally Navis – Sherwood Park, AB Charmaine, Kathleen, Ian, Christopher Debbie and Royce Howland – Calgary, AB

A visitation will take place on Monday, June 25 from 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m., at Foster and McGarvey Funeral Home, 10011-114 Street, Edmonton.

A Celebration of Life will take place at Hope Christian Reformed Church, on the corner of Hwy 16 and Hwy 779, Stony Plain, on Tuesday June 26 at 11:30a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rehoboth Christian Ministries, 3920-49 Avenue, Stony Plain, AB, T7Z 2J7.

The Family would like to send a special Thank-You to Mom's palliative care team Dr. Dusang, Nurse, Christina, and Health Care Aide, Vicki