HOLLANDS, Ardis
— December 7, 2022
Ardis Katherine Mathis was born on February 19, 1921, to Albert and Emilia (née Hertz) Mathis, who farmed just south of Southey, Sask. Ardis, her parents, and her two older sisters faithfully attended the Southey Baptist Church, where she was very much involved in music (choir, duets, trios, and mixed quartets) as well as the Young Peoples’ Group. Ardis came to a personal faith in Christ before age 10, and was baptised on April 19, 1935, an Easter Sunday afternoon.
After completing High School in Southey in 1938, Ardis moved to Regina, SK to take a one-year Secretarial Course. She subsequently took a position with the Simpson’s Department Store in the Adjusting Department. In 1941, a colleague from work invited Ardis to attend the young people’s meetings at the Regina Christian & Missionary Alliance Church. And, with the blessing of her parents, Ardis became a regular attendant there.
Also associating with this group of young people was a young man named Albert Joseph “Jo” Hollands, who worked out of Regina but whose home was in Moose Jaw, SK. Jo and Ardis soon became good friends and were married on September 25, 1942. The following year, Ardis resigned from Simpsons to become a full-time homemaker, wife, and mom, raising three sons.
Ardis and Jo had an opportunity to travel extensively, within North America while their sons were younger and then abroad when their sons were grown. Places they visited included the UK, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean.
In the early 1960s, that Jo was diagnosed with a serious heart condition, which impacted the family significantly and resulted in Ardis returning to the work force in the fall of 1968. She worked full time until end of September 1984, the last 14 years for Sask. Agriculture in the Cattle and Horse Brands Division.
Air quality issues in Ardis’ last workplace contributed to her developing Pulmonary Fibrosis (Sarcoidosis) and a need to take early retirement. In 1984, on the advice of her doctor, she and Joe moved to Kelowna, BC.
In retirement, Ardis pursued many interests including photography, crocheting afghans for family and friends, and sewing. Given her breathing difficulties, Ardis shifted her musical attention from singing to keyboard playing, something she enjoyed well into her 90s.
Throughout most of their lifetimes, Ardis and Jo were very involved in Alliance churches, and were known for entertaining and showing hospitality to visiting pastors, missionaries, friends, and acquaintances.
Jo Hollands finally passed in 2005, at the age of 89. Ardis opted to continue living in their Kelowna townhouse for another 15 years, until failing health necessitated a move to full-time care at Mission Creek Landing in 2021. She celebrated her 100th birthday there, just a few days after moving in. Ardis passed away on December 7, 2022, at the age of 101, outliving most of her community and generation.
Ardis was predeceased by her parents, her husband Jo, her sisters Ida Gerhart and Arpa Wolfe, her son Douglas, her nephew Craig, her daughter-in-law Janet, and many other family members. Surviving Ardis are her sons Grant and James (Lowell), and her daughter-in-law Margaret; and their families, including: granddaughter-in-law Amy; grandchildren Keith (Vickie), Sean and Christina (Ben); and great-grandchildren: Chandra, Joel (Harmony), Jenna, Nicholas, and Beatrice.
A special thank-you to the many friends and family members in Kelowna and elsewhere who enriched Ardis’ life.
Gifts in memory can be contributions to a Bursary that Jo and Ardis established at Canadian Bible College, now Ambrose University. Ardis was strongly committed to supporting foreign missions.
Specify Hollands (J&A) Missions Research Bursary:
Payable to Ambrose University
150 AMBROSE CIRCLE SW
CALGARY, AB T3H 0L5
A Memorial to honour Ardis will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 1:00 pm, at Springfield Funeral Home (2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC). Please RSVP by clicking this link.
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We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of HOLLANDS Ardis — December 7 2022 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
Death notice for the town of: Kelowna, Province: Colombie britanique