Maria Bos

1935 - 2025

BOS, Maria "Ria" (née Goring)
January 26, 1935 - April 8, 2025

A WILD, WEIRD, WONDERFUL WOMAN LIVES HERE! Those words were on a sign by Mom's front door.
On April 8, 2025, Ria Bos (née Maria Goring) passed away peacefully at the age of 90, in Victoria, BC. Ria is predeceased by her first husband, Adrian van den Broek, and second husband, Theodore Bos. She is survived by her 4 children, Marge (George), Jude (Randy), Walter (Monika), Rudi (Debbie) and 3 grandchildren, Michael (Mandy), William and Lily. She is also survived by 1 great-grandchild, Alexander, and daughter-in-law Janet.
Ria (Mom) was born on January 26, 1935, to Dina and Joseph Goring in the Netherlands. She was sibling to Theo, Joanne, Betty, Lucy, John and Liz. Dina (Oma) and Joseph (Opa) managed to feed the family despite limited rations during the German occupation of The Netherlands. In 1951, the family together with Joseph's sister Tante Bertha, emigrated to Canada in 1951, ending up in the village of St. Alphonse, Manitoba.
In 1954, Mom married Adrian van den Broek (Dad), a Royal Netherlands Air Force Officer-Navigator on exchange with the RCAF, in Winnipeg. Shortly after they married, they returned to the Netherlands, where Marge, Jude and Walt were born between 1955 and 1959. However, Mom was very homesick, missing her family, so they returned to Canada in September 1959; settling in Winnipeg, where Rudi was born in 1963. One 12-foot snowdrift against the front door too many (so the story goes), and the family moved to Victoria.
Both Mom and Dad were great dancers; people cleared a space when they got out on the dance floor. Mom and Dad parted company in 1972 and Mom married Dick Bos in 1979. Mom was very independent, energetic, creative, and found the world a fascinating place. From early days Mom expressed her creativity, from decorating her family's home, to feeding and dressing her young family. Mom was playful and young at heart, and always made time to help her children, at any age, and when grandchildren came into her life, her heart lit up.
Mom always had a verdant garden (10 green fingers). One of her greatest joys was to have family and friends over, and share a meal around her big table. Never idle, Mom got involved in the art scene in Victoria, joining the Fibre Arts Society. Her fabric art is displayed in homes in the Netherlands, Phoenix, many parts of Canada, and at the Victoria International Airport. With her gifts of creativity, design, and 'green fingers' Mom decided to start her own landscaping business, which she ran for 20 years. She volunteered at Silver Threads. With her keen interest in growing things and the environment, she joined like-minded organizations including the Raging Grannies. She was very proud of her involvement in the Clayoquot Sound protest in 1993, where along with about 800 others, was arrested. This peaceful protest received worldwide mass media attention, creating national support for the environmental movement in BC.
She was involved in many causes. One dear to her was African Aids Angels, a non-profit organization that makes decorative angel decorations to raise funds for AIDS - related projects.
Mom believed in making the world a better place and was always doing something to that end. She was a champion for the underdog throughout her life. Her empathy was the common thread in all things that she did.

A celebration of Ria's life will be held in the summer of 2025. Details to follow via Social Media. In lieu of flowers, donations to your favourite charity in her name would be appreciated.
Condolences may be offered to the family at
www.mccallgardens.com