Alice Caroline Boons, 84, passed peacefully on June 21, 2019 at the South Health Campus in Calgary. She was predeceased by her husband Nicholas (Nick) Boons, her brother Robert Martens, sister Yvonne and granddaughter Sabrina. She is survived by her sons Robert (Brenda Couture) and Eric (Patricia) Vandersanden; her grandchildren Ryan, Chloe (Maneesha), Reece and Christa; step-children Bill (Jacquie) Boons and their children and grandchildren and Laurie Boons; Alice’s beloved sister Germaine… Read More » Berden; and many loving nieces, nephews and dear friends.
Mom was born near Alken, Belgium in 1934. Her parents had a butcher shop where she worked with her brother and sisters. At school she trained as a lab technician and worked for Phillips where she met our father. They emigrated to Canada together in 1957 and settled in Elliot Lake, Ontario where she worked in the lab for Dennison Mines. They later moved to Toronto, Winnipeg and Montreal once dad joined IBM.
After separating from her first husband mom moved to Vancouver in 1970 where she raised her sons and worked as a receptionist in a beauty salon. In the evenings she took classes at Douglas College to train as a dental assistant, working for dentists in Cloverdale and later in New Westminster after completing her studies. In her retirement she was a volunteer at the Dania Seniors Home in Burnaby. In 2014 she moved to Okotoks to be closer to Eric and her grandchildren.
Our mom’s greatest joy in life was her grandchildren. She and Nick played an active role on their lives, spending as much time as possible with them when they were young and sharing in the pride of their accomplishments and lives as they grew into young adults. Mom was always a hard worker, raising two boys whom she was immensely proud of on her own and instilling in them a solid work ethic, love of family and a taste for travel. Alice loved to travel back to Europe to visit with her sister and family in Belgium. Her Belgian upbringing gave her a strong fashion sense that she maintained throughout her life, meaning she was always the best dressed person in the room whether playing with the grandchildren, eating Kentucky Fried Chicken, cheating at cribbage or presiding over a family holiday meal for 20.
Our deepest thanks go out to the staff and residents at Heartland in Okotoks for easing our mom’s transition from Burnaby and making the final years of her life happy ones.
In accordance with her wishes, mom will be cremated and no formal service is planned. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Alice Caroline Boons Okotoks 2019..
Décès pour la Ville: Okotoks, Province: Alberta