Sjoek Tine den Breejen

On Wednesday, November 6th, our awesome mother Sjoek Tine den Breejen, with confidence in her faith, passed on to be with her Lord and Saviour.  She is survived by her four daughters Judy (Duaine), Sherry (Joe), Marietta (John) and Tynke (Lynn); daughter-in-law Edna; eight grandchildren – Corinné, Jennifer, Jesse, Samara, Monique, Emily, Brian, Willem; seven great grandchildren - Zackery, Seamus, Claire, Charlotte, Weylin, Athena, Harlow; and many nieces, nephews and extended family.  Sjoek was predeceased by her husband Willem, sons Jack and Harry, sister Geertje (Diet), and brother Anton.

Mom was born in Oranjewoud, Friesland, in the Netherlands, to Jacob and Trijntje (Bijl) VanderHoek, the youngest of three children.  She lost her mother at the very  young age of four, after which her Tante Sjoek moved into the family home to help with raising her sister’s children.  Mom’s family survived the occupation of the Netherlands during World War II, aiding in the Resistance movement, which assisted in the liberation of their country by Canadian armed forces.  When Mom finished school, she began her training to become a nurse, working in a TB sanitorium.  Sadly, her beloved father, Heit (in Frisian), passed away while she was studying.  Mom loved her chosen career, but Dad caught her heart, and they married in 1953.  They decided to immigrate to Canada, first because of the love the Dutch had for their liberators, and secondly due to Dad’s love for this country which developed during his travels with the Merchant Marines.  They travelled by ship to the East Coast, where they visited her brother Anton in Ontario, then took the train across country to B.C.

They settled in North Vancouver, close to Dad’s sister Betty Van Spronsen’s family, followed soon after by the immigration of Mom’s sister Diet Braaksma (Mom’s best friend), her husband Arie (Dad’s close friend from their sailing years together) and first daughter.  Our clan of three families was established within the same block, making the move from “the old country” an easier transition.  

Soon a growing family of six children kept Mom and Dad very busy.  They developed strong friendships with neighbours, including Frank and Fern Sharp (our adopted grandparents) and Roy and Shirley Baycroft, who became life-long extended family.  After more than 20 years in North Vancouver, Mom, Dad and their three younger children moved to Armstrong, and later to the Salmon Arm area, where they enjoyed a quiet life in the country.

Our lives were blessed with parents who loved camping, our earliest trips to Cultus and Allouette Lakes in the Fraser Valley.  We seemed to always catch monsoon weather, absolutely drenching rain, with every inch of our campsites draped in tarps and plastic.  So, in hopes of sunnier, drier days, the Braaksma and den Breejen families headed to Caravan Campground in Sorrento on Shuswap Lake.  We all loved it so much that Caravan became our annual summer vacation spot, three heavenly weeks of waterfront camping, swimming, fishing, boating, water-skiing, campfires with sing-alongs and marshmallows, kids running wild and happy, and parents fully enjoying the experience as well!  We spread the word of our little heaven on earth, and many relatives and close family friends joined us, including the Baycrofts, Oudelaars and Pelechs.  Although we didn’t realize it at the time, Mom still had a lot of work to do each day, the usual cooking, laundry, watching over her brood of children, and diaper washing and drying on sticks over the campfire.  But our memories of her and Tante Diet kicking back like a couple of teenage girls have made us understand that she also loved this time together, making them the “best days of our lives”.

After those idyllic times at Caravan Campground ended, our parents were living in the Shuswap area and decided to rent a houseboat.  Well, that was it.  Mom and Dad bought a houseboat of their own – 30 foot “Krek Wak Wou”, Dutch for “Just What We Wanted” (we think!).  A whole new water adventure had begun, providing outstanding memories for all who were invited aboard!

Mom and Dad became quite the hockey fans, first being loyal to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and in 1970 switching allegiance to the newly formed home team Vancouver Canucks.  This became a passion they shared with Sherry, Harry, Marietta, and Mom’s sister Diet.  There were certain days that one just didn’t call the house, as hockey took precedence over pretty much everything!  

Family was everything to Mom - especially her babies and later, her grand-babies and great-grand-babies!   She loved her flower gardens, and the peaceful time she would spend there, particularly on the Deep Creek acreage.  Mom enjoyed hosting large family and close friend gatherings - whether planned or impromptu, there was always room at her dinner table.  In her leisure time Mom enjoyed a lively game of Canasta after dinner, a serious game of Scrabble, or a peaceful jigsaw puzzle.

When maintenance of the hobby farm became too much work for them, they moved into town, choosing Sunridge Estates Senior Housing as their home.  After Dad’s passing in 2015, Mom moved to the Andover Retirement Resort, where she enjoyed her apartment and balcony overlooking her beloved Shuswap Lake.  Sadly, her advancing dementia required a move to Hillside Village long term care.  She had chosen Hillside years ago as other family and friends had comfortably lived their final days there.

We would like to thank Dr. Bonthuys and the Hillside Village Care Team for their kind and compassionate care of our precious Mom, Sjoek Tine, poppedina.

A gathering to celebrate Mom’s life will be held in the spring or early summer of 2025.  Date to be determined. 

If you wish to receive information regarding Mom’s upcoming Celebration, please forward your name and email or mailing address to Judy at joyfulj@telus.net.

Through the process of forming this obituary, we have become inspired to write a more detailed version of our family story including pictures.  We are looking forward to seeing what we can come up with, and challenge you, our family and close friends, to do the same for your families, and perhaps share them at our 2025 get-together!  You may already have something similar prepared!

Till we meet again!