On February 26, 2023, God reunited Gonny with her husband, Harry, and her daughter, Johan. On December 20, 1933, Hillegonda Quirina Lipman was born in Honselersdijk, South Holland. Gonny met Harry van Dijk in the Netherlands and followed him to Victoria in 1955. They married on a snowy November 12th in St. Andrew’s Cathedral. Gonny had to sew a new wedding dress as the first one she made was still in a trunk on its way from Holland. Together Harry and Gonny welcomed two daughters, Johan and Lorraine, and a son, Ed. Sadly, Johan passed away in 1990 and Harry passed away in 2005.
Gonny courageously lived alone in the family home until 2021 when she moved to St. Charles Manor. Gonny (aka Oma) was so proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and she spent many hours looking at their photos. Eventually dementia overtook Gonny and she passed away peacefully.
Gonny is survived by her daughter Lorraine (Peter) and her son Ed (Marie); her grandson Gregory (Laura) and her granddaughter Melissa (James); and her wonderful great-grandchildren (Luke, Caroline, and Madelyn…and another on the way). Gonny is predeceased by her parents and many brothers and sisters; she is survived by two sisters in Holland, Corrie and Gerda.
A celebration of Gonny’s life will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 4040 Nelthorpe Street, on Friday, March 10, 2023 at 10:00 am with Father Alfredo Monacelli presiding. The burial will follow at Hatley Memorial Gardens, 2050 Sooke Road. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Red Cross or Anawim House. Thank you to the staff at St. Charles Manor for their wonderful care of Mom!
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Aunt Corrie and family van der Meijs
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monique kools-vd hoeven gecondoleerd met het verlies van jullie moeder en heel veel sterkte de komende periode
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Lene Gregersen Our condolences on your loss of dear Gonny – we have enjoyed some neighbourly visits and chats over the years, she will be missed.
Kindly,
The Gregersen’s
4081 Tuxedo
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Ron and Nancy van der Zalm Wishing you peace and comfort as grieve the loss of your mother, Tante Gonny. May your fond memories of her support you in the coming days and weeks.
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Oom Koos and Tante Riet Our deepest condolences with the loss of your beautiful mother, grandma and great-grandma. After the death of her husband Harry, my dear brother, we were so proud of how she coped with her life without him. She was such a strong woman who never complained. She will be missed. May her soul rest in Peace and may the Good Lord give you all the strength you need to get through this difficult time.
With our love–Oom Koos and Tante Riet XO
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Alfons Ter Laak As the son of Agaath, Gonny’s sister who already passed away in 1995, I remember the frequent contact they had with each other by telephone and also by means of letters and of course written up Christmas cards, so as I later on also corresponded with Johan and Lorraine.
Gonny’s homesickness for Holland could be heard in it, but she was strongly committed to her husband and the love for him and of course later the children and grandchildren.We have fond memories of our trip to Canada in 2007, where we also visited Vancouver Island and met Gonny, Lorraine, Ed, Marrie, Gregory and Melissa. A trip and visit that my father and mother once wanted to do, but never got around to for various reasons.
Our condolences on the loss of her. We wish you all a lot of strength and power for the coming period. Be comforted by the many wonderful memories you will hold and cherish. She left you forever, but will never leave your heart.
Stay strong, lots of love,
Nel & Alfons Ter Laak, Papendrecht, The Netherlands.
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Ciska and Pieter van Dijk We will keep Gonnie in very warm memories. She was brave enough to follow our brother Harrie to a far and unknown future and was a very carrying wife to him, a wonderful mother, grand mother and great grand mother, and a very dear sister in law. May she enjoy her well-deserved rest with Harrie and Johan. Many thanks and good wishes to Lorraine and Ed and the family. You gave her much joy and care.
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Marka Riske True end of an era. Hoping her life’s ‘final journey’ was one of peace and comfort. May your hearts, like her soul, rest easy.
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Norah Macey Heartfelt condolences to your family, from Norah and Sam Macey. I have many fond memories of your Mom, especially at the hockey games in the old Memorial Arena. She always gave me “a look” when I used a bad word, which was quite often. Also we had a great visit in your back yard, among the dahlias, when my parents were in town. Take care Lorraine, I’m always here for you. Love, Norah (and Sam)
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Chris Gaspar Oma is like a mother to me. She lived across our house and I was one of her Home care attendant. Every time I have to looked after her she’s already waiting for me by the window waving and smiling, even when I have to go. She always ask me if it’s time for me to go. I will always called her Queen Oma, because she looked like Queen Elizabeth.
We pray that her soul rest in peace in heaven.
We will truly miss you.0
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Pat cavanagh So sad about your mom. Many memories were created in church and our neighbour hood.arnie enjoyed her visits at church and her wave out her front window. God bless.
Aunt Corrie and family van der Meijs
We would like to express our condolences on the loss of your mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
It was nice that Gonny visited the Netherlands for the last time in 2009. And that she stayed with us, Corrie and Gerard. We have good memories of that.
Even then she wanted to stay in the Netherlands. Homesickness has always played a role in her life. But her love for her children and grandchildren was stronger.
After that there was occasional telephone contact.
We wish you a lot of strength in this difficult time.