Janneke Anthony Worthington (née Ooosterman), was born on December 1, 1949 in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands, and passed away peacefully in Toronto, Ontario on September 8, 2022. Janneke was a formidable person, and we’ll all miss her terribly.
Despite a childhood illness that would impact her subtly her whole life, Janneke persevered – becoming one of her most characteristic traits. No matter what life threw at her or how others may have perceived her – she never stopped trying to overcome whatever obstacle lay in front of her. Where others might change their plan and stay indoors if it was raining, Janneke would push ahead and bring an umbrella. She never lost faith in herself, nor did she judge or lose faith in others. She loved fully, with all her heart, and truly made the most of her life. Mom was forever grateful for the second chance she got as a little girl, and never forgot the support of her family nor the kindness of her doctors, which made such a difference in her life.
Janneke was married to Greg Worthington for 43 years, whom she loved to her last days, and who took care of her every need, right to the end. She had a decades long career with the Canadian Government and 2 children who adored her. She was always cheering us on and would have done anything for us, always putting us ahead of herself. Mom taught us humility, empathy and grit – and to never stop believing in ourselves. She had a special place in her heart for her sisters, Gerry and Ineke. Janneke was fiercely independent and would always say yes to an invitation, longing to feel welcome and accepted in the same way that she strived to make others feel welcome.
Mom loved to travel, especially to Europe, especially to the Netherlands. She read huge paperback novels and we spent many of our summers together camping in the woods up North. Janneke had no fear and she was an excellent canoe paddler – but at heart she was a city girl. She’d take the subway to downtown Toronto to meet us for coffee or lunch, to go shopping, to pick up special groceries at the St. Lawrence Market, to meet and be around people. She sang with a choir, took up knitting, studied countless international languages and played chess. At one point she wanted to become a paralegal. She was always working on something. She would devour appeltaart with slagroom (whipping cream – only the real stuff) and big mugs of coffee. Dark chocolate and blue cheese. She was unique, she was imperfect – and in that way, she was perfect – she was Janneke and there was no one else like her, nor will there ever be.
In 2018, Mom suffered a stroke, connected to her childhood illness and her health continued to decline over the next few years, leaving her unable to enjoy the things that she once did, or be around the people she loved as often as she would have liked. All that is over now, and Mom doesn’t have to be sad anymore or feel left out.
Daughter of the late Jan Simon Oosterman and Gerri Geertruida Oosterman; sister to Gerry Oosterman and Ineke Sutherland; survived by her husband, Gregory George Worthington and mother to Kevin Worthington and Janna Kastrin. Aunt to Greer Nicholson, Grant and Wendy Foster, Jeremy, Jeffrey and Joanna Worthington, and Ryan, Brad and Tracy Wilson. Oma to Hayden and Zoë Kastrin. Rest in peace, Janneke – though you can’t be here with us, you will continue to live on within us and we will think of you always. You are everywhere. We learnt so much from you and will love you forever xoxo
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Janneke Anthony Worthington nee Ooosterman 2022..
Morley Bedford Funeral Services Ltd
Death notice for the town of: Toronto, Province: Ontario