Petronella Peeters

Petronella (Nel) Maria Peeters

(nee Janssen)

Nel Peeters, beloved wife of the late John Peeters, passed away at the age of 88, with her family by her side. She passed away on July 26, 2010, at the Portage District General Hospital.

Funeral service will be held at the Good Shepherd Parish Church, on Friday July 30th at 10:30 am, with Father Eric Giddins officiating. Internment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens.

Mom, was born on September 28, 1921, the third youngest of the late Gerardus and Petronella Janssen. She was raised and received her education in the Netherlands. Being from a large family Mom always enjoyed having people around her. She especially liked when the entire family and extended family would gather. Mom and Dad came to Canada, three weeks after they were married, in June of 1952. They made their first home in Carlyle, Saskatchewan. After a short stay, they moved to Bagot, Manitoba where they resided and farmed with Murray and Jean Burch and family. Burch's made Mom and Dad a part of their family, which cemented their attachment to Canada. Later they went on to work at several farms south of Portage. In 1959 they moved into Portage to raise their family.

Although Mom did not work outside the home until her last child was in school, she was always busy with the garden, sewing, knitting and crocheting. She was always looking for ways to make life better for her family. Her first paid job outside the home was at Richeleu Sportswear, better known as the sewing factory. Later she obtained a position in Housekeeping at the Manitoba Developmental Centre, where she worked until her retirement in 1983.

Mom and Dad enjoyed many weekend camping excursions in their renovated school bus and later in their mini-home with their family and friends. In 1981, the families purchased property in St Laurent and build summer homes, where many fun filled weekends were spent. Throughout the years Mom and Dad made several trips back home to the Netherlands, to visit the family. Mom's most recent trip was in 2008.

She leaves to mourn her passing; daughter Nellie (Andrew) Bird of Portage la Prairie and grandchildren Jennifer (Dave) Roy, great grandchildren Jordann and Kiera all of Portage la Prairie; Angela Bird and Shawn Bird of Winnipeg; daughter Gerry (Allen) Dell of Portage la Prairie and grandchildren Tahd Dell and Kourtney Dell both of Winnipeg; son Harry (Janet) Peeters of the Gainsborough District and granddaughter Kandis (Ken) Johnson and great grandchildren Grayson and Samantha all of the Gainsborough District.

Should friends so desire donations in Nel's memory may be made to Canadian Cancer Care, 675 McDermot, Winnipeg, MB, R3E OV9 or to Portage District General Hospital Foundation, 524 Fifth St.SE, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 3A8 or to Sunset Palliative Care, Box 92, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 3B2 or to Good Shepherd Parish Building Fund, 114 Countess Ave, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N OT2

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel 857-4021 A message can be left in the on-line guest book at www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com