It is with sad hearts that we announce the passing of our mother, Helena Maria Petranella (Bennenbroek) Maas, on March 30th just before sunrise at the Port Hawkesbury Nursing Home. It was a beautiful sunny day. Her subtle cuteness, humor and smiles remained even as the Parkinson’s Disease with dementia progressed. She exemplified love, goodness, courage and also wanted the best for her family. Her love unfailing.
Mom was born in Heusden, The Netherlands January 15th, 1932. She was an active member of St. Andrew’s parish, St. Andrew’s CWL, Seniors Oak & Owl Club and St Andrew’s District Community Centre. Mom learned one of her favorite hobbies, sewing, from her sister Nel but she always said she was never as fast as Nel. She learned to knit at the age of 6 from her Oma. She passed on her skills to the next generations as a 4-H leader for decades.
Maria, as a new bride to John, emigrated from Holland in late April, 1956. They arrived at Pier 21 in May, 1956 to have a new beginning for their family with hopes of owning their own farm. Her strength shows as we remember how she left all her family in Holland to start a new life with her husband across the ocean. We can only imagine what they must have been thinking as they came into Pier 21 as farmers when all you could see was rocks and trees. In 1959 they settled on the Maas farm in Marydale where the dairy farm became the way of life for us all. Their 8 children were born in Canada.
Maria is survived by her children Toni Wilson(Bill), St. Andrew’s; Josie van Vonderen (Gary), St. Andrew’s; Joanne Maas Latimer(Matthew), Mulgrave; Frank (Roberta), St. Andrew’s; Maria Campbell (Ken), Belmont; Petra Maas, Sydney; Elizabeth Barrett (Steve), Halifax; and Joseph (Wanda), Salmon River. She was Oma to 21 grandchildren and Oma Maas to 17 great grandchildren.
Maria is also survived by her brother Piet (Stien) Bennenbroek of Leirop The Netherlands. Also many nieces & nephews in Holland and Canada and Peter & David whom they mentored.
Maria was predeceased by her loving husband of 57 years, John in 2013. They were soul mates and spent all their time together on the farm raising eight children and watching the next generations grow with them. In later years they were able to do some world traveling which they very much enjoyed together. Now they can dance together once again on what would have been their 60th wedding anniversary on April 10th.
Maria was also predeceased by her parents, brother Johan (Beth) and sisters Nel Loomans (Antoon), Dora Sloots (Fritz), Mien Weijenborg (Toon), Miet Bennenbroek, Toni Heligers (Martien) of Holland and granddaughter Baby girl Patterson.
A special thank you to the staff of the Port Hawkesbury Nursing Home for their love and caring the past two years while mom was a resident. Family flowers only please. Cremation has taken place.
Visitation 5pm to 8pm on Friday April 1st at CL Curry’s Funeral Home, Antigonish.
Funeral Mass on Saturday April 2nd at 11am in St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church, St. Andrew’s. Family only internment will be at a future date.
Donations to the Parkinson Society Maritime Region or Cathy’s Place St.Martha’s Hospital.