In Loving Memory of Alida (Alice) de Reus
June 5, 1929 – March 27, 2020
Aged 90, Alida (Alice) de Reus née Schoo passed away peacefully on the morning of Friday, March 27th, 2020. She is predeceased by her loving husband of 58 years, Simon de Reus, her son Josh and daughter-in-law Maureen Murray. She is survived by her daughters Mary de Reus (Donald Brean), Deborah de Reus (Peter Turtlebury) and Joanne Keshen, her grandchildren Katie, Ann-Michelle, Stephanie, Scott, and Wesley, and her great-grandchildren Elijah, Willem and Locke.
Alice was born into a large, loving family in Beverwijk, North Holland to parents Bernardus Schoo and Jacoba Brakenhoff. She married her teenage sweetheart, Simon, in 1950 and immigrated post-war to Canada in 1953 with their young son Josh in tow. They sailed on the Grote Beer to Halifax, then took the train to their new home town, Toronto. While Simon was involved in the building of this booming new city and establishing Baldwin Plumbing & Heating, Alice managed their growing family. As a homemaker, Alice was a wonderful cook renowned for her traditional boterkoek, an avid gardener and an excellent seamstress. Her sewing skills served her well when, later in life, she worked in the fabric department of Eaton’s Yorkdale for fifteen years.
Alice was artistic from early childhood and pursued her passion for painting seriously when she retired. Simon was her most ardent supporter and admirer. Now her paintings live on in the homes of her beloved family and friends.
Alice was a playful, social spirit committed to her family and friends. She hosted weekly card games with her closest group of friends (including John & Clara Mous and Toni & Tonia Den Houdyker) and many fabulous birthday parties that sometimes lasted til early dawn. She also found great joy in making new friends wherever she went- camping at Killbear, cruising in the Caribbean, travelling abroad and also in their winter retirement community in Englewood, Florida. She was known to be very competent and competitive at many things, including table tennis, cards, curling, bocce and dutch shuffleboard (Sjoelbak). As well, Alice was a longtime volunteer for the Canadian Cancer Society and the Roman Catholic Church. Alice and Simon were one of the founders of the Blessed Trinity Parish in North York.
Simon and Alice’s love and dedication to each other, their family, friends, and to their community, and their zest for life was an inspiration to all that knew them.
We are grateful for the love and care she received at Sunrise Assisted Living in Richmond Hill during the last ten years of her life. In particular, we wish to thank her dedicated caregiver Joyce Ferrer, and her children who treated Alice as if she were their own grandmother.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Alida Alice de Reus Friday March 27th 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Richmond-Hill, Province: Ontario