Obituary of Joanna Aarts

Aarts: Joanna Adriana (née Timmermans)

Passed away peacefully at St. Joseph’s Hospice, Sarnia on November 23rd, 2017, after a brief illness. She was 89.

Anna was born June 30th, 1928 in Gilze, The Netherlands. She married John B. Aarts in 1954 and immigrated to Canada shortly after.

Anna lived a very full and happy life, and leaves behind a rich legacy of family and friends. She was a wonderful mother to John (Kim) Aarts, Ken (Sherry) Aarts, John (Sam) DeGroot, Pete (Cindy) Aarts and Mary (Marty) Timmers. She was an amazing Oma to Steve (Julie) Aarts, Colin (Erinn) Aarts and Meagan (Renée) Aarts; Paul (Amy) Aarts, Craig (Jolene) Aarts and Danielle (Mike) Bryce; Mike DeGroot, Mark DeGroot, Lindsay (Ryan) Sutherland and Leanne (Matt) Duncan; Deborah (Gene) Aarts, Jeb (Adele) Aarts and Charlie (Ashley) Aarts; Rebecca (Charlie) Turner, Kevin Timmers and Maggie Timmers. She was also a proud great-Oma to 29 great-grandchildren, each to whom she loved getting to know: Cooper, Sam, Brennan and Adalene Aarts; Emry and Caitlynn Aarts; JayJay Aarts; Hailey, Lucas, Kyler and Rachel Aarts; Ryan and Sarah Aarts; Braxton and Quinn Bryce; Parker, Cailen and Tess Sutherland; Riley and Nolan Duncan; Jude and Hazel Shannon; Eric and Adam Aarts; Ben, Matthew and Olivia Aarts; and Cara and Emily Turner.

She is predeceased by her husband John (1986), daughter Nancy DeGroot (2000) and granddaughter Janet Timmers (1990), along with her brother Piet Timmermans, sister Adriana Vaarten, sister-in-law Ad Timmermans, sister and brother-in-law Riet and Jan Oomen, as well as brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Luc and Jan Van Rooesel, Rien and Anna Aarts and Ria and Jim VanHellemond.

Anna is fondly remembered by her brother and sister-in-law Adrian and Cindy Timmermans, brother Jan Timmermans, brother-in-law Harrie Vaarten, sister-in-law Betsy Timmermans and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Toon and Meintje Aarts, along with dozens of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends in Canada, The Netherlands and New Zealand.

If Anna was writing this herself, she would probably want to publish the birthdays, anniversaries and license plate numbers of everyone on the list, but we only have so much space. Rest assured she knew them all.

Friends will be received at DENNING’S OF WATFORD on Sunday, November 26th, 2017 from 2-6 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish on Monday, November 27th, 2017 at 11 a.m. Interment to follow in Our Lady Help of Christians Roman Catholic Cemetery. As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Hospice, Sarnia. Donations and condolences may be left online at www.denning.ca.