Predeceased by her husband Henricus Nuyten, baby daughter Patricia lost at childbirth, parents Michael and Mary Goulding, brother John Goulding and sister Winifred Flanagan.
Left to mourn her passing: brother Michael Goulding (Marie), brother-in-law John Flanagan, sisters-in- law Maria Aleven and Doris Tuerlings, daughters Anne-Marie Varner (Brian), Trish Nuyten (Rob), Michelle Kozma (Joe), grandson Noal Pitzoff, granddaughter Clare Pitzoff (Reid), great-grandson Kade Pitzoff, and nieces and nephews in Ireland, Holland, and across Canada.
Frances met and married her husband Henk in Prince Rupert soon after immigrating to Canada in 1957 as a Frontier Apostle teaching at Annunciation School. In 1973, they sold the home they built together on Atlin Avenue and returned to Ireland with two trunks and two daughters, Anne Marie and Trish. They returned to Canada in 1974 settling in Terrace, BC just in time to welcome their last daughter Michelle into the family.
Frances began working at Veritas School teaching Grade 4 and became Principal in 1988, a role she held until 2003 when she retired at the age of 66. Grocery shopping is where she most often caught up with her former students learning about their success as accountants, artists, nurses, or tradespeople. We often wondered why it took her so long to go grocery shopping…she enjoyed talking to everyone. Going to school was her passion; it didn’t just end at retirement. Frances’ curiosity and love of learning continued as she engaged in many online classes on a range of subjects and enjoyed spending time with her Tuesday book club friends.
In 2023, Frances sold the family home in Terrace and moved to Victoria, BC to be closer to her daughters. Frances spent the last few months in long term care at Luther Court. The family would like to express our sincere appreciation for the care and compassion provided to her by her primary care team including Nurse Michele Ray-Jones and Dr. David Brook, and all the staff of Luther Court who treated Frances like family and lovingly cared for her throughout her final days. Godspeed Mom, you will be missed immensely.
A Funeral Mass and Celebration of Life will be held at Sacred Heart Parish, 4830 Straume Avenue, Terrace, BC V8G 2C7 on Tuesday July 14, 2026, 11:00 am.
For those who are unable to attend, a livestream will be available using the following link: https://evt.live/frances-nuyten-celebration-of-life
Interment will take place at the Terrace Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Heritage Park Museum or Parkinson BC in memory of Frances would be greatly appreciated.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens
This obituary is the property of the “Nuyten” family and may not be reproduced, distributed, or altered in any way without prior written consent.
14 Responses
Frances (Mrs. Nuyten) was my principal at Veritas from 1997-2003. She cared deeply about us as students and it showed in her everyday actions.
I was new to Veritas & had landed myself in some disciplinary measures involving having to remain with the teacher or principal on duty during recess. It was ice cream day & it seemed like all the kids were lining up for it. I however did not have any change to buy ice cream, nor was I supposed to leave the care of the duty, who happened to be Frances that recess.
Frances reached into her pocket and gave me her own money to buy ice cream, then told me I could go play with the others. It was a gesture that not only made me feel included with my peers, but told me in lesser words that even if I made mistakes I was still a worthy person and a good kid.
Her kindness, patience & unwavering dedication to her students & staff remains in the hearts of all those whose lives she enriched.
My deepest condolences on the loss of your mom. I have great memories of Frances; she was a remarkable, faithful, strong and resourceful person. I valued her wisdom, encouragement and mentoring as she shepherded me into taking over her principalship at Veritas. She was always a quiet strength filled with good humour and common sense. Her life was a blessing for many.
Frances was a woman of faith and we trust in the Father’s Mercy that we all we meet again in the new creation! Rest in Peace Frances.
Heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of Frances. I have many great memories of Frances. I met Frances in the late 1980s when I was dating my soon-to-be husband, Robert Onstein. I was introduced to Frances at a Christmas party for Terrace Chrysler and Terrace motors Toyota because Henk was an employee there. I remember Frances as a very welcoming person with a quick Irish wit and she was an interesting conversationalist. She offered me a job at Veritas to start the music program there in 1992. I had just returned from a honeymoon and started there in late September. Frances was the principal at Veritas at that time. She was an excellent leader, running the school with high standards and cutting edge innovation. Every morning the staff would gather for a meeting to begin the day centered on prayer and the readings of the day from the bible. Frances would inform the staff of upcoming events of the day. She always had a tidbit of knowledge that she would share with everyone about the latest educational practices or technologies that could be offered to students. She encouraged us as a staff to reach beyond the everyday curriculum and to delve deeper into how to teach our students to spark their highest potential. I am thankful for getting to know Frances and will be forever inspired by her encouragement and attention to gleaning all that the present moment has to offer.
I am so sorry for the loss of your Mother Frances. She was lovely and she was our Principle when we attended Veritas. She was a wonderful person and will always be remembered. May god lift your family up during this difficult time. Thank you for your dedication to your teaching career, you influenced many people.