Obituary
On December 15, 2021, at the Grey Nuns Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, our beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, Aunty, and friend, Sibeldina (Dena) Elizabeth Theune (nee Oosterveld) passed away peacefully and entered into the presence of the Lord. She was 87 years old.
Left to cherish her memories are her husband, Jacobus, children; Sue (Dan), Grace (Wayne), Andy (Arja), Henry (Lori); 11 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren; Dena’s sister, Liz Laurie, many beloved nieces and nephews, cousins, and cherished friends are also sharing in this loss.
Dena was predeceased by her parents, Hendrick and Grietje Oosterveld; her brother and sister-in-law, George and Edna Oosterveld; her brother-in-law and niece, Doug and Dorothy Laurie.
Dena was born in 1934, in Noordyk, Holland to Hendrick and Grace (Ebens) Oosterveld. Dena’s earliest memories were of life in Holland under German occupation. After the war she developed a love for knitting and sewing. In 1953, Dena immigrated to Canada with her parents and settled in Edmonton. True to her strong work ethic, she found employment at GWG sewing blue jeans. She was asked by many to sew clothes for them including a senator’s wife. She even had a season of teaching classes at NAIT. Through out her lifetime she sewed all the clothes for her family. Dena continued to knit an endless supply of sweaters and helped many ladies with their projects. Later she found she had a remarkable talent for handiwork like crocheting and tatting.
Dena married Jack Theune on December 15, 1954, and God granted that they build a life together for 67 years! Blessed with 4 children between 1955 and 1969, their family adventures took them from Edmonton to Abbotsford to Vernon and then back to Edmonton. Dena was a busy mom and wife, keeping the house, cooking and baking, and of course, keeping the family clothed. When the kids were grown, Dena had a short but successful career as a Real Estate Agent in Vernon. It was an easy decision to choose retirement in 1984 when she and Jack bought a motorhome and started to spend the winters in Arizona. The travels lasted 11 seasons and Dena loved every minute of her time as a snowbird, always keeping busy enjoying the desert sun, visiting, and handcrafts. No matter where she was, her hands were never idle; always at work with a set of needles or a tatting shuttle. She loved creating and modifying patterns and then giving away those creations; blessing others with her time and her talents. Her grandchildren were blessed to receive many unique gifts such as doll houses, stuffed animals, activity books, raggedy Ann dolls, and costumes, just to name a few!
In 1987 they moved back to Edmonton to spend their retirement years and take care of her mom. Dena became very involved in volunteer work at the Allan Gray and Shepherd’s Care Senior homes. She was ever ready to serve; whether it was helping to feed, read to, taxi, or simply visit those in need. Dena knitted an infinite number of baby booties and adult slippers for the Grey Nuns Auxiliary and loved to use her tatted crosses, snowflakes, and angels to gift to others as a way to share her faith. Most of her neighbours in the condo were on the receiving end of these gifts and her family and friends will recall precious memories as they find the crosses in their Bibles and hang her handiwork on their Christmas trees in the coming years.
In the last months, Dena battled some persistent health issues, but she never allowed that to shake her faith or break her spirit. Though she was no longer able to attend church, Dena never missed a day spending time in God’s Word and watching available church services on tv. Dena’s desire was to be a faithful servant of Christ, and she relied on her faith in God and the truth of His Word to carry her through both the calm and turbulent waters of life.
Her passing leaves a void and she will be greatly missed, but her life encourages those left behind to carry on and live their lives to the glory of God. We take great comfort from the words of Jesus in John 11:25-26 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.”
The family wishes to acknowledge and send gratitude to the staff at the Grey Nuns Hospital for the care provided during Dena’s last days, as well as the wonderful service provided by Foster and McGarvey Funeral Home.
The family will be having a private gathering which will be followed by Dena’s internment at Westlawn Cemetery.
They thank you all for your prayers and support during this difficult time.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Sibeldina Elizabeth Theune 2021..
Foster & Mc Garvey funeral homes
Décès pour la Ville: Edmonton, Province: Alberta