Peacefully at her daughter Tina’s home in St. George on Tuesday June 30, 2020. Antje (Ann) Stolp went home to be with her Lord and Saviour in her 101st year. Beloved wife for 55 years of the late Hendrik (2002). Loving mother of Henry and his wife Jane Stewart, Tina and her husband Jack Schut, Marlene and her husband John Hogewoning, Anne Stolp, John and his wife Colleen. Loving Oma to fourteen grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren, and four great great grandchildren. Antje was the youngest of fifteen children of the late Tetje and Klass Snyder. Hendrik and Antje farmed in St. George for twenty years. She was a longtime active member of Hope Christian Reformed Church. A family service was held for Antje at Hope Christian Reformed Church, 64 Buchanan Crescent, Brantford on Tuesday July 7, 2020. Interment St. George Cemetery. Donations to the Hope Church Deacon’s Fund appreciated.
Antje was born Jan 21,1920 to Klass & Tettje Snijder in Nylamer, The Netherlands and was the youngest of 15 children. She grew up on the family farm in Wolvega and loved attending school so was disappointed to leave after Grade 6 to help on the farm. Her youth was full of family, friends and music.
Antje learned to play the violin, piano and pump organ and played in a band in her teens. Cold winters in Friesland would freeze the canals and there would be ice skating parties and canal races. Antje was competitive and has at least one medal to her name for a 70 km speed-skating race.
Antje was just 7 years old when her father passed away and she was 22 years old when she and her mother were out biking and her mother was struck by a car and died. It was a tragic and life changing event.
In May of 1940 Germany invaded the Netherlands and throughout WWII Antje would be thankful for the supply of food the farm provided. She braved German check points to bring food to siblings and 2 of her sisters lived in Den Hague – 200 kms away!
In 1941 at her sister Hotske’s wedding she met the nephew of the groom, Hendrik Stolp. Despite the war and communication difficulties they started to see each other and travelled by whatever means available – car, motorbike and even horse.
On January 8, 1947, the coldest day that winter, they married in the Christian Reformed Church in Wolvega. The couple settled in Zoetermeer where Henry, Tina and Marlene were born.
Due to poor economic conditions the decision was made to immigrate to Canada. The young family crossed the Atlantic on the Groote Beer, a troop ship converted to a passenger liner by Holland America. Antje suffered from horrible seasickness leaving Hendrik to manage the three children on board. They landed in Montreal on August 18, 1953 and were met by some of Antje’s family members who had already established themselves in Stoney Creek. Her brother-in-law Jan Sikema helped them build their first house on Mount Albion Road. Daughter Anne and son John were born here.
Hendrik worked at various jobs and in 1961 they were able to purchase a small farm on Harrisburg Road near St. George. Together they built a turkey breeding operation and Antje’s natural business sense certainly contributed to their success.
After working side by side for 20 years they sold the farm in 1982 to son John and retired to their newly built home on a 20-acre wooded lot. Retirement included a condo in Florida, visits to Holland and many trips motoring across North America – but never a cruise!
In 1998 Hendrik and Anjte scaled down and moved to a home in Branford. Hendrik passed away in 2002 and with help from her family remained in their home until 2016. She enjoyed the next 4 years in Tranquility Place and we are blessed to have celebrated her 100th birthday together.
On March 14, 2020 due to the pandemic Antje was moved to the home of her daughter Tina and son-in-law Jack where everyone, particularly Tina, ensured she was well cared for until her passing on June 30th, in her 101st year.
Read Less
Tuesday June 30th 2020
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Antje Ann Stolp Tuesday June 30th 2020..
Décès pour la Ville:Brantford, Province: Ontario