Obituary of Maria "Grace" GELDERBLOM

Grace was born April 8, 1915, in Rotterdam Holland, passed away peacefully at the Rockyview Hospital on Monday June 27, 2011 at 96 years young. She was a wonderful wife, sister, and aunt. Having no children of her own, she was endearingly known to us all as Auntie Grace, and to many of us she was truly our second mother. She and her husband Gerrit immigrated to Canada in 1954 from Holland. They mostly lived in Bowness where she worked at the Sweet Home Bakery during the 60s. We all loved going there where she would always give us a free cookie whenever we came to visit. And we cant forget her famous Orange Crush floats, what a treat that was for us kids. Always the strong and stoic one, Aunt Grace was the matriarch of the family. Forever happy and jovial, she rarely frowned even when she wasnt feeling up to par. Back in her younger days she loved to host a good party loving nothing more than to dance, laugh, and have lots of fun. She is survived by her sister Hendrika "Henny" Van Sprang of Calgary, and her brother Korstiaan "Kors" Oliemuller (Riet) in New Jersey. She has many, many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great-great-nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her loving husband Gerrit in 1999, her father Korstiaan Oliemuller in 1973, her mother Johanna Oliemuller in 1993, her brother Bastiaan (Nell) of New Jersey in 1993, her sister Trudy Klyn (Gerrit) in 2006, and her brother Casey (Dottie) of Florida in 2008. She will be sadly missed by all of her family and by all of her good friends and loved ones at the Shalem Manor where she lived for over 20 years. A Celebration of Graces Life was held at CALGARY CREMATORIUM CHAPEL, 3219 4th Street N.W., (within the valley of Queens Park Cemetery) Monday, July 4th, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the A.L.S. Society of Canada, 3000 Steeles Avenue East, Suite 200, Markham, ON L3R 4T9, www.als.ca.