Our beloved Greta went home into the loving arms of her Lord and Saviour abruptly on February 15, 2022 as the result of a car accident outside of Hensall, ON.
Greta (Geeltje van der Veen) is loved by her husband, John. Loving mother of Calvin (Jane) Zwaan, Loretta Zwaan, and Valerie (Sam) Beckford. Adoring Oma of Kelsey, Kailey, John James, Anna-Lise; Isabella, Benjamin, and Alexander. Lovingly remembered by her family, Jerry (Rolla) van der Veen, Melvin (Hazel) van der Veen, Joe (Mary Ann) van der Veen, Rick (Marie) van der Veen, Shirley LaFrance, Jane (Danny) Kuchta, and Carol (Denis) Wynowski and many nieces and nephews. Greta is predeceased by her infant son David Alexander, parents Marie (Martje Vaatstra) and Alex (Eelke) van der Veen and brother Albert van der Veen.
Born, March 28, 1939 in Veenwouden, Friesland, the Netherlands, Greta was the second born of nine children. She was around nine years old when she, her parents, and three siblings moved to Canada in search of a better life. Growing up she was her mother’s right-hand girl, helping with all the household chores and with the siblings who came after her. As a young teenager she went to work as a housekeeper, then on to work at Imperial Cloth and Spinrite in Listowel, ON. The skills and tenacity she learned from the early years would be put to good use all her life.
In 1955 she caught the eye of John Zwaan at a Sunday School picnic in Bayfield, ON and dated him for four years. Their romance would become a 63-year-long endearing one. They began married life in 1959 in Clinton, ON, then moved to their own farm north of Brucefield, ON a few years later. They would welcome four children, sadly losing their son, David, in his first days of life.
In 1973 Greta was involved in a car accident that nearly took her life at that time. But, in answer to John’s prayers, God mercifully spared her life, causing John to follow the Lord’s leading to serve Him in full-time ministry. In 1974 John and Greta moved, with their three children, to Three Hills, AB to pursue theological studies at Prairie Bible Institute. After graduation, John and Greta would serve the Lord in 5 churches: in Delburne, AB; Central Wickham, NB; Port Hawkesbury, NS; Grand Manan Island, NB; and Bath, NB.
Greta and John partnered together to meet the needs of their church families and their surrounding communities for 40 years. A few years after John retired from his last church in Bath, they returned home to Ontario where they settled in Exeter. Even in retirement, they continued to be active in ministry, visiting the elderly and caring for their community.
Greta had many loves. She was passionately loved by her husband John, her children and their spouses and all her grandchildren. She loved her family and her husband’s family equally. She loved to write letters and cards full of encouragement as well as stories, prose and poetry. So great was her love of writing that she wrote and published two books about her life in Canada. Some of her stories were published in Chicken Soup for the Soul. She loved to garden, especially flowers that overfilled her yard each summer. She particularly loved to collect cookbooks and try new recipes. She loved to freeze, can, pickle and preserve. Greta’s pantry would outlast any apocalypse! She loved a bargain and she could never pass up or pass by a good yard sale. She also loved volunteering at the semi-annual fundraiser for the local hospital at the town’s arena, enjoying selling her “wares” to anyone who went past her table.
Greta’s dedication to her Lord was recognized by all who met her, opening her home and heart to countless people across the country. She loved working alongside John in the ministry, hosting special teas for the senior ladies in their churches and teaching Sunday School and reaching out to the young adults. She always gave her time to anyone to listen, to talk, to pray, to offer a meal or assistance. She became a friend to many and a fervent prayer warrior, especially in her latter years when her health started to decline. But Greta’s greatest love was her Saviour, Jesus Christ. She shared the story of His salvation to everyone she met, faithfully remembering them by name in prayer.
As the author of Proverbs ended his book with a tribute to his mother, so do we: “Favour is deceitful and beauty is vain: but a woman who feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.” Prov 31:30.
A Celebration of Greta’s Life will be held at the Exeter Christian Reformed Church, 330 Huron Street West, Exeter on Wednesday May 4, 2022 at 11AM. For those unable to attend the service, the family invites you to join with them from the comfort of your home. Stream the service live or at your convenience by visiting youtu.be/Ib0p-9DENo0.
Donations to Northern Canada Evangelical Mission, ShareWord Global (formerly The Gideons International) or a charity of your choice would be appreciated.
Offer Condolence for the family of ZWAAN: Greta (Geeltje van der Veen) of Exeter
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of ZWAAN Greta Geeltje van der Veen of Exeter 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Exeter, Province: Ontario
John, just today we saw online the news regarding Greta. Sincere condolences to you and all of the family. But all who knew her would have blessed assurance of her presence with Jesus for eternity. You will be on my prayer list tonight.