On February 26, 2023, God reunited Gonny with her husband, Harry, and her daughter, Johan. On December 20, 1933, Hillegonda Quirina Lipman was born in Honselersdijk, South Holland. Gonny met Harry van Dijk in the Netherlands and followed him to Victoria in 1955. They married on a snowy November 12th in St. Andrew’s Cathedral. Gonny had to sew a new wedding dress as the first one she made was still in a trunk on its way from Holland. Together Harry and Gonny welcomed two daughters, Johan and Lorraine, and a son, Ed. Sadly, Johan passed away in 1990 and Harry passed away in 2005.
Gonny courageously lived alone in the family home until 2021 when she moved to St. Charles Manor. Gonny (aka Oma) was so proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and she spent many hours looking at their photos. Eventually dementia overtook Gonny and she passed away peacefully.
Gonny is survived by her daughter Lorraine (Peter) and her son Ed (Marie); her grandson Gregory (Laura) and her granddaughter Melissa (James); and her wonderful great-grandchildren (Luke, Caroline, and Madelyn…and another on the way). Gonny is predeceased by her parents and many brothers and sisters; she is survived by two sisters in Holland, Corrie and Gerda.
A celebration of Gonny’s life will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 4040 Nelthorpe Street, on Friday, March 10, 2023 at 10:00 am with Father Alfredo Monacelli presiding. The burial will follow at Hatley Memorial Gardens, 2050 Sooke Road. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Red Cross or Anawim House. Thank you to the staff at St. Charles Manor for their wonderful care of Mom!
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
11 Responses
Aunt Corrie and family van der Meijs
We would like to express our condolences on the loss of your mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
It was nice that Gonny visited the Netherlands for the last time in 2009. And that she stayed with us, Corrie and Gerard. We have good memories of that.
Even then she wanted to stay in the Netherlands. Homesickness has always played a role in her life. But her love for her children and grandchildren was stronger.
After that there was occasional telephone contact.
We wish you a lot of strength in this difficult time.