In Loving Memory of

Jacoba Boer

Apr 18, 2020

With deep sorrow and profound love, we had to say goodbye to our dearest Mom and Oma, Jacoba Boer, on April 18, 2020. Even though she was 93, her passing was sudden, unexpected, and came far too soon -- and it broke our hearts. We truly weren't ready. We had so many plans and dreams of things yet to be done together!

Jacoba was born November 25, 1926, in Sint Pancras, the Netherlands, to Johanna Hovius and Pieter Leijen. She had four half siblings, Dirk, Rein, Nel and Siets, and two younger brothers, Gerrit and Pieter, whom she adored. Her father was a gladiolus and tulip grower, and their home was a safe hiding place for others during the Second World War. There Mom learned the gift of grace and the importance of living out her Christian faith and hospitality, even in the midst of hardship. She continued to practice this throughout her life. Mom came to Canada on her own aboard the Tabinta in 1948 at her father’s request so she could then sponsor her youngest brother, Pieter. She initially worked at the Bakker farm in Stony Plain, and after moving to Edmonton worked at Eaton's selling ladies’ gloves, where she was known as the "English" girl. One Sunday Mom came to Edmonton from Stony Plain to attend First Christian Reformed Church with her brother and met our dad, Johnny Boer. Soon they were in love. They married on October 19, 1950, and were inseparable for 69 years. They loved to travel to Terrace to be a part of their grandchildren’s lives, they built a cabin together at Pigeon Lake, and they gardened together. Dad did the vegetables. Mom loved the flowers, and knew them all by name. Mom cared for all of us, and her caring and dedication was ever more evident as dad’s health declined. After his passing just eleven weeks ago on February 1, Mom had been embracing life as well and as completely as she could, until a fall which broke her hip changed everything. She was recovering well until complications set in. Despite the current restrictions, we were blessed to be able to be with Mom as she drew her last breath and went to be with her Lord and Saviour. We are so thankful that she didn’t have to suffer.

Our Mom was, is, and always will be a strong, beautiful, and amazing Mom, Oma, child of God, and lover of flowers, birds and life. We will deeply miss her. Her love for her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and others was deep, powerful, and wonderful, and the story she lived has taught us so much. Mom’s story is one of bravery. Of overcoming. Of adventure and of finding peace in difficult circumstances.

We know that she's with the Lord. In Him we have strength, hope, find rest for our souls. Through Mom's sudden passing, we have experienced the hands of Christ and the mercies of hospitality through the many expressions of caring extended by all those who have acted just as Mom would have acted, and through the kindness of staff at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. We have been reminded how to be present even when we can’t physically be together. How to minister to one another when the need and the pain is so great. That healing comes through faith and through relationships built on love and faith. So while at this time of COVID we can’t physically be together to say farewell to Mom, we can look forward to a future celebration of Mom’s life.

We give thanks to God for Mom’s beautiful, grace-filled life. She knew she was going to be with her Lord and Saviour, and she was at peace. She will be profoundly missed by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren: David--Margaret & Mike (Cassidy, Duramax), Chad; Douglas & Juliet--Pavel, Petra, Lola*; Jo-Anne & Frank--Nathan & Lorena (Isaac, Declan, Wyatt, Evelyn), Justin & Corina (Eli, Jayna, Jeremy, Liesl), Bryce & Karin (Lowell, Cleo), Leanne & Kevin (Wendy), Krista & Peter (Reuben, Phoebe); Suzanne & Ron; foster son Terry Ryan, as well as many nieces and nephews. She is now reunited with the love of her life John, her granddaughter Lola, and other beloved relatives and friends.

A Funeral Service will be held at Foster & McGarvey Funeral Home, 10011 114 Street, Edmonton, on Saturday, April 25, 2020,

We would like to invite all our family and friends, but due to the latest Covid-19 protocols, this is unfortunately limited to only immediate family members. However, please note, that Foster & McGarvey will be live-streaming Jacoba’s service from their website starting at 12:30pm.