Friday, November 24, 2017 at 12:00 a.m.
Vander Beek, Dr. Johanna
"In Christ alone, my hope is found.
"In Christ alone, my hope is found.
He is my light, my strength, my comforter, my all in all, my song.
Here in the dead of Christ I live!!"
DR. JOHANNA "ANN" CORNELIA VANDER BEEK, beloved wife of Anton Vander Beek of Lethbridge, passed away at the Chinook Regional Hospital on Friday, November 17, 2017 at the age of 83 years.
Besides her husband Anton, she is lovingly remembered by her brother, Leen (Mies) Kayen, sister Corrie Hartenberg and brother Kees (Nel) Kayen, all of the Netherlands; sister-in-law, Frances Vander Beek and Nolda Smeding of Lethbridge, AB, Joan (John) Antonides of Penticton, BC and Nettie (Lloyd) Westra of Edmonton, AB.
Ann was predeceased by her parents, Gerrit and Johanna Kayen-VanHam, brother-in-law, Wim Hartenberg and Bert and Joe Vander Beek.
Ann was born on August 3, 1934 in Dubbeldam, Netherlands. She immigrated to Canada in 1952 to be with the love of her life, Anton "Tony" Vander Beek. They were married on April 22, 1953 and settled in Lethbridge.
Ann initially worked in office administration for a time but found her true calling as a teacher at LCI. She was a keen student in her studies at the Universities of Lethbridge and Calgary then took a leave of absence to complete her Doctorate Degree in Linguistics at the University of Nancy, France; she received her Degree and an Honorable Mention from the Jury on October 23, 1980 - a major accomplishment! Ann started at LCI as a senior high school French teacher and eventually became the head of the Modern Languages Department. She was active in the Provincial Department of Education and the Language Council.
Ann was also a devoted member of Maranatha Christian Reformed Church and spent many hours in the Prison Ministry. She took every chance she had to tell and show her love for Jesus.
Tony and Ann were quite the globe-trotters; they loved to travel and their passport stamps included Africa, Australia, America, South America as well as most countries in Europe, but their trips to Israel were the most precious to both of them.
Ann made many dear friends, leaving a positive impact on everyone she met. Nothing was more important to her than her Christian faith! She will be dearly missed.
A Visitation will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2800 Mayor Magrath Drive South Lethbridge, AB on Thursday, November 23, 2017 from 7:00 P.M. - 8:30 P.M.
A Service of Remembrance will be held at MARANATHA CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH, 260 McGill Blvd West, Lethbridge, AB on Friday, November 24, 2017 at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Jim Zondervan officiating.
Johanna will be laid to rest, prior to her service, at Mountain View Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Ann's memory to the Gideon's International in Canada, P.O. Box 3619, Guelph, Ontario N1H 7A2, or email info@gideons.ca, or phone (519) 823-1140.
Guestbook (8)
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Anton, gecondoleerd met het overlijden van Annie. Wij stuurden je een persoonlijke e-mail. We wensen jou alle sterkte om dit verlies te verwerken te midden van familie, vrienden en kennissen. Groeten van Annie, Myrna en Piet uit Nederland.
Dear Anton, In several phone calls during the last days you mentioned The River. Now, on this day of Annie's funeral our thought and respect is with both of you. With The River in our mind we wish you strength and comfort. When you look out of your window you see your bench in the coulees When you are sitting on the bench you are able to see The River. Dordrecht, November 24, 2017 Anneke and Piet
Dear Anton, In several phone calls during the last days you mentioned The River. Now, on this day of Annie's funeral our thought and respect is with both of you. With The River in our mind we wish you strength and comfort. When you look out of your window you see your bench in the coulees When you are sitting on the bench you are able to see The River. Dordrecht, November 24, 2017 Anneke and Piet
My sincere condolences to the entire family. Dr. van der Beek was my French teacher at LCI and she was a wonderful teacher and influence. Her teaching style was extremely thorough and she encouraged (and expected) full participation and commitment, which is what made her classes so rewarding. Rust zacht. God zij met U.
I'm so very sorry to learn of Dr. Vander Beek's passing. As fond as I was of her as my highschool French teacher, my favourite and most special memory was when she came to visit me and my husband when we were living in Burma. Her sense of adventure and wanderlust is such an inspiration, and that memory of her will live on forever.
My love and prayers go out to you all.
Dear Anton, nogmaals gecondoleerd met het overlijden van Annie. Sterkte in de komende tijd.
Our condolences on your loss. Our family was in Ann's prayers which was much appreciated.