ROELIE (RUBY)
SCHAAFSMA,
Roelie (Ruby) Schaafsma (nee DeKleine), at the age of 83, entered into eternal rest at St. Lawrence Lodge after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
She was born on March 10, 1938, in Smilde, The Netherlands, to Berend and Jantje DeKleine. At the age of 15, she immigrated to Canada in April 1953, with her family and resided at Row’s Corners.
On June 4th, 1960, she married Dick Schaafsma and they settled into their home on North Augusta Road, later moving to County Road 26 in Bethel and then to Vista Drive in Brockville.
For many years, she was a stay-at-home mother to her four children. Later on, as they grew older and attended school, she went to work in Housekeeping at St. Vincent de Paul Hospital. She loved her time there and met many new friends.
Her main interest was her family and was especially proud of her crowning jewels, her grandchildren. She loved to be involved in her church and enjoyed being part of bible studies and her love for children was evident in her willingness to babysit for Coffee Break and also in volunteering for Vacation Bible School. She took great pleasure in music and could, on many occasions, be found humming or singing as she went about her day and also enjoyed many years in the church choir. She enjoyed riding her bicycle to visit family and friends and, in later years, going on drives and day-trips in the area.
She was predeceased by her husband, Dick (2009). She is survived by her four children, Sandra and husband Ray, Amy and husband Dave, Richard and wife Emily and Patrick, as well as by her eight grandchildren, Joel, Kaitlyn, Jayson (Jill), Cameron (Hilary), Damon, Brady, Wil and Brindle.
She is also survived by her brother Ralph (Connie), Laurens (Betty), sister Siebie (Robin), sister-in-law Audrey Vanderwoude (Pete), and brothers-in law, Bill Juhasz and Bindert Schaafsma as well as many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Helen and brothers Dirk and John.
Family and friends are invited to pay their respects from 2-4 and 6-8 pm.on Friday, September 17th,at the Irvine Funeral Home and Chapel, 4 James Street East, Brockville. A ceremony celebrating Ruby’s life will be held at 11 am. on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church, 117 Windsor Drive, Brockville. Covid protocols must be followed with registration for all guests, either online at www.irvinememorial.com or by calling the office at 613-342-2828 between 9am and 4pm.
As expressions of sympathy, donations to the St. Lawrence Lodge Activation Therapy will be gratefully acknowledged. Send condolences or share a memory online by clicking on the Memory Button above.
NOTE:
Though seating may be limited at the service, all are welcome to gather for a luncheon at the Brockville Convention Centre (7829 Kent Blvd) from 12 to 4 pm.
The website will be updated with the link to view the service by livestream.
Please click this link to view the Livestream: www.youtube.com/channel/UCpkF4LCVMDaKZAS5QMLWokQ
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Wednesday September 1st 2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Roelie Ruby Jane Schaafsma Dekleine Wednesday September 1st 2021..
Décès pour la Ville:Brockville, Province: Ontario