Obituaries
Ann van Polen
August 23, 1933 - November 17, 2016
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Obituary For Ann van Polen
Antje (Ann) van Polen, resident of Grande Prairie, passed away on Thursday, November 17, 2016, at the age of 83 years.
Ann was born in Nijkerk, Gelderland in the Netherlands on August 23, 1933, and immigrated to Canada in 1952, with her family and future husband, Johannes van Polen. The family settled in Alberta. In 1955, Ann and John married, and shortly thereafter established themselves in the Peace country where they went on to raise four children.
Ann was an adventurous woman with an entrepreneurial spirit. She worked as a nursing aid in the Spirit River Hospital, and later launched two successful businesses, a bakery and a lady’s fashions store, both in Spirit River.
Ann’s life was a testament to unconditional love and acceptance of virtually everyone she met. As she grew older and left the business world, Ann devoted herself to volunteer work centered on those who were sick and dying. Of even greater importance, Ann was a Christian and when she and John moved to Grande Prairie, after living in Kamloops, BC for several years, they became an integral part of the Forbes Presbyterian Church family.
Although Ann loved working and volunteering, she had many passions, and when she wasn’t doing other things, she loved to bake, visit her children and grandchildren, and stop to explore every little town on any route to where she was headed!
Ann will forever remain in the hearts of, her husband John van Polen; her children: Jane (Roy) Ripkens, Norman (Sylvia) van Polen, Joyce (Ken) Yanishewski) and Colleen (Kevin) Werboweski; grandchildren: Arlee (Todd) Oprenchok, David (Lara) Ripkens, Steven (Rachel) Ripkens, Kristi (Kelly) Joyce, Kyle (Brittany) van Polen, Michael (Cat) Yanishewski, Janelle (Jim) Yanishewski, Jonathan (Hazel) Yanishewski, Christopher (Kendal) Werboweski, Eric (Jennifer) Werboweski, and Lindsay, (Mike) Allard; great-grandchildren: Julianne, Darwin, Curtis and Jasper Ripkens, Vanden and Vaia Joyce, Barran, Beau and Bentley van Polen, and Elliott Yanishewski. In addition to her immediate family, Ann is survived by one sister, five brothers, ten sisters in-law, five brothers in-law, and a great number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, several cousins, “and a partridge in a pear tree”.
Ann was predeceased by her parents Nick and Johanna van Rootselaar, an infant sister, 2 sisters in-law, 3 brothers in-law, and one niece.
A Memorial Service celebrating the life of Ann van Polen will be held on Saturday, November 26, at 11:00am, at Forbes Presbyterian Church in Grande Prairie (9635-76 Ave., Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 5B3).
Memorial donations may be made to Odyssey House Women’s Centre (9913 93 Ave., Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 0J5).
Memorial arrangements are being provided by Oliver’s Funeral Home in Grande Prairie.
Services
26
Nov
Funeral Service
11:00 AM
Forbes Presbyterian Church ,
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