MARIA (MIEKE) GERDINADELANGE

MARIA (MIEKE) GERDINA
DELANGE
(née Snoek)
December 6, 1931- December 31, 2023
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Maria (Mieke) Delange, aged 92, on December 31, 2023. Mieke was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. She was the fifth child in the family of Aart and Elizabeth (née Prins) Snoek. Mieke and her husband, Anton (1928 – 1986), emigrated to Canada in 1955 on the S.S. Grote Beer, an emigrant passenger ship. She was a loving Mom to Monica O’Donnell (Peter), Ted Delange (Mel), Carla Delange and Paul Delange (Lucia). She was the second mother to Nga Pam Bui and Hoa Kim Bui. She was known as Oma to her grandchildren Dorian (Scott), James, Tamara, Jen, Jeff (Hanna), Christian (Sinthu), Danny, Lia and Mieka; and also to her great-grandchildren Lyra, Fynn, Cal and Elliot. Mieke is survived by her sister Gerdien; her siblings Jan, Ellen, Aat, Hans, Heins and Beppie have passed and were sorely missed. She grew up in a family with close ties that remained to the end and passes on that legacy to those left behind. Between letters and phone calls, she stayed in contact with her remaining family and friends in Holland, New Zealand, Germany, British Columbia, PEI and places that she’d lived in Canada. Mieke found her best friend in Anton and they had over 40 years together before he died in 1986. Once they left Holland, Anton and Mieke moved from Oshawa, to Bowmanville, to Madoc, and finally to Mindemoya, Manitoulin Island. This was Mieke’s favourite place on Earth, although her home in Stouffville was where she was determined to stay until the end. Ever perseverant and determined, she got her wish and passed peacefully there in her sleep. Besides spending time with her family and close friends, she was always active in her church wherever she lived. She was part of the Anglican Church ACW for over 45 years. She loved baking and her almond squares were made for many church occasions. She loved her flower gardens and took great pride in them. She was an excellent seamstress, following in the footsteps of her own mother. On Manitoulin, she began quilting and enjoyed the creativity and companionship of that craft. She enjoyed reading books like the Mitford series. She also loved taking photos of her gardens, her busy bird feeders, her apple trees in blossom, the sunsets and the deer that visited her yard on Manitoulin. Mieke loved the peacefulness of her home in the country on Manitoulin Island yet was always ready for a visit from her family. She leaves behind a legacy of love to all who knew her. Her memorial service will be at Christ Church Anglican in Stouffville on February 3, 2024, at 1 pm with a reception to follow. The burial will be on Manitoulin Island sometime in May for family. Donations may be made to St. Francis of Assisi Anglican Church in Mindemoya, Manitoulin Island, which was a mainstay of her life for over 40 years.
“Neither death nor life will be able to separate us from the love of God.” Romans 8:39