Obituary of Claire Elgersma Spoelstra

SPOELSTRA, Claire Elgersma Peacefully, in the 96th year of her life, Claire’s wish to be with the Lord was granted on January 1, 2013 in Brantford, Ontario at the home of her daughter Ruth and her husband John, mom’s loving care givers in her final years. Her life was characterized by familial love and devotion. She was precious to her husband Peter (2000) and their children and grandchildren; Betty (2006), Raymond and his wife Shirley (Randy, Ron, Rob, Sue, Paul); Tena and her husband Jerry (Rhonda, Gary, Carla); Stuart and his wife Mirijam (Sean, Sara, Evjenia, Ivanna, Julianna, Daniel); Fred and his wife Fran (Philip, Rachel, Mylana); Paul and his wife Hendrika (Jordan, Buffy, Dylan); Ruth and her husband John (Tanya, David, Kara, Andrea, Laura, Justin); Wendy (Joshua, Justin, Jason, Leah); and Peter Mark and his wife Dana (Benjamin, Jacob, Samuel). She will be honoured in the memory of her great-grandchildren. One of ten children raised on a dairy farm in Koudum, Friesland, she will be lovingly remembered by her surviving sisters Joan Tigchelaar, Helen Winter and Jane Slothouber, her brother Stephen Elgersma and their families and her sister-in-law Sophie Elgersman as well as many nephews and nieces. She attended the First Christian Reformed Church of Hamilton for most of her life and was a proud member of the Mohawk College Choir for many years. She loved to read and traveled the world through books. She had a rich sense of humour and to the very end of her life was a tolerant, wise and practical friend and counselor to all who knew her. Visiting hours are to be held Thursday, January 3 from 2:00 p.m to 5:00 p.m. at the Immanuel Christian Reformed Church, 61 Mohawk Road West. A service to celebrate her life will take place at Immanuel Christian Reformed Church on Friday, January 4, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. The interment will take place privately at Mount Zion Cemetery in Flamborough. In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations to the Peter and Elizabeth Spoelstra Music Bursary at Redeemer University College. On line condolences may be made at www.donaldvbrown.ca