Obituary
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Lloyd passed away peacefully in the arms of His Savior and taken to his heavenly home on January 4, 2020, after a short battle with cancer. Lloyd was born in Edmonton, Alberta on November 29, 1952 to Andrew and Rommy Riemersma. He was the eldest of five children and grew up loving to play baseball with his siblings and neighborhood kids.
His immediate family moved in 1971 to Abbotsford, BC, where he worked on pig and dairy farms over the years as well as was employed at Harrison Hot Springs and on Agassiz farms, the latter being his favorite. Living in Chilliwack in his own duplex was short lived as he chose to move to Vernon on a whim in 1985 and resided there for the rest of his life.
Lloyd created his own family in Vernon as he was befriended and enjoyed the friendships within the caring community. He was very independent, lived on his own, and had a great work ethic. He was very creative in making a little extra money by collecting bottles, shoveling snow, washing windows and sweeping parking lots for local businesses. Washing dishes got him a free lunch to the point that when he came back on vacation to see family in Abbotsford, he always felt he came at great risk as he could lose one of his jobs. He always returned to Vernon, as everyone knew him by name. From Earls, to Starbucks, to Jim’s Pizza, and a local gas station, he had good acquaintances. The Earl’s staff even threw him a 60th birthday party seven years back and gave him a cell phone.
Lloyd was an avid fan of the Seattle Seahawks and the Vancouver Canucks. Lloyd’s favorite foods were New York Steak/baked potato, “with all the fixings”; festive turkey dinner; BBQed spare ribs, and for drinks he loved root beer floats and his favorite Starbucks coffee selection was grande, dark roast, a little cream, and 4 shots of caramel. During his hospital stay, these coffees were given to family members for free, to take up to Lloyd, with his name handwritten on the cup.
Lloyd was predeceased in death by his father Andrew. He is survived by his mother, Rommy Riemersma; Irene (Frank) Van Nes; Richard (Judy) Riemersma; Margo (Richard) Vandervelden; and Ron Riemersma. Lloyd also had twelve nieces and nephews as well as fifteen grand nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at 1:00 pm at the Immanuel Covenant Reformed Church on 35063 Page Rd., Abbotsford, BC V3G 1N8
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the Doctors and Hospital Staff of Vernon Jubilee Hospital, for their care and attention to Lloyd’s health and comfort during the last six weeks of his life.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Riemersma Lloyd Albert November 29 1952
January 4 2020..
Décès pour la Ville: Abbotsford, Province: Colombie britanique