Louise Wilhelmina de la Bije-Vincent-Warner

Louise Wilhelmina de la Bije-Vincent-Warner passed away peacefully at 97 on July 10, 2023. She was born to parents Jan de la Bije and Anna Maria Zandvoort-de la Bije on April 25, 1926 in Leiden, The Netherlands.

After coming to Canada in 1948 to marry her handsome Canadian soldier, Jim  Vincent, she homesteaded on Jim’s VLA land in Meath Park outside Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.  It was there that her two sons Frederik and Robert were born. Hoping for more opportunities they moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1954, staying with Jim’s family there until they were settled into their own home. Louise worked in a sewing factory in Winnipeg while redoing her high school years to get her Canadian graduation. She was then able to work for the Manitoba Government for approximately 6 years, after which the whole family moved back to Holland. When Jim retired in 1982 they moved back to Canada, settling in Victoria. At this time she returned to high school as a mature student and took a computer class alongside the students of Victoria High School. Unfortunately Jim passed away in 1989. Two years later she met and married Ford Warner and proceeded with an exciting adventure, as they were able to go on many cruises together including an around-the-world cruise in 1996. They had a happy life together until Ford’s death in 2006.

During her life, Louise relished many crafts.  She was a meticulous seamstress,  and enjoyed hand and machine knitting, embroidery, cross stitch, tile painting and ceramics and attempted with precision any hobby that came her way. Her family appreciated her many homemade gifts during their lifetimes! She fondly remembered her volunteer work in the gift store at Royal Jubilee Hospital and her friendships with members of the Netherlands Association of Vancouver Island.

Louise was predeceased by her brother Jan de la Bije, her sister and brother-in-law Frederica and Dirk Schenk), son and daughter-in-law Frederick and Wendy Vincent, and great grandson Shane.

She is survived by her son Robert Vincent(Susan); grandsons Bryan Vincent and Chris Vincent (Sherrice) of Victoria; granddaughters Sandy Nahkala (Shawn), Pattie Atwell (Dan), Tina Vincent (Marc) and grandson Chris Vincent of Winnipeg, great grandchildren Alex, Courtney, Veronica, Caitria, Kieran, Mercadies, Hailey, Alanna, Aubrey, Riley, and Hailey. Also survived by stepsons Brian Warner(Kathy) and Dennis Warner (Maureen) and families; her niece Barbara Johnson, of Victoria; and many relatives in Canada and the Netherlands.

We would like to thank all the caregivers at the Parkwood for their loving care of Louise and kindnesses to her family. If desired, memorial donations in Louise’s honour may be made directly to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC at www.heartandstroke.ca or the Canadian Cancer Foundation cancer.ca/en.

The family has entrusted McCall Gardens with the arrangements. A Celebration of Life is scheduled for 10:00 am, July 18, 2023, in the Sequoia Centre, at McCall Gardens, 4665 Falaise Drive, Victoria, BC.

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com