Anna Geertruida van Bommel van Vloten-Gratama

Anna Geertruida van Bommel van Vloten- Gratama Our beloved wife, mother, Oma, sister and Tante passed away peacefully at home on Friday, April 20, 2007 after a short illness with cancer. Anna was born in Zwolle, Netherlands; the eldest child of Jan Willem and Johanna Gratama. Anna's love of languages led her to the Leiden University, but the Germans invaded, and in 1941 the universities were closed. All students were to sign a loyalty clause to the Germans, but many instead, went underground. Anna's family hid a Canadian air force serviceman during WW II and her and her brothers joined the resistance. After the war, Anna was a secretary to the Dutch delegation at the Paris Peace Conference, a forerunner to the United Nations. On February 24, 1955, one day after she arrived in Canada, Anna and Walter were married in Vancouver. They started their life together in downtown Vancouver, but soon moved to Maple Ridge to raise 4 children and start van Vloten Nurseries. Anna's love and devotion to her family was only surpassed by her love and devotion to Jesus Christ, and the family is comforted to know that they will be seeing her again one day. Anna will be lovingly remembered by: her husband Walter of 52 years, sons Casey (Patty) and John (Diane) of Abbotsford, daughters Alicia (Anne) of Kamloops and Christine (Jason) of Victoria, grandchildren: Mark (Eryn), Kim (Avery), Katie (Laura), Kristin (Jeremy), David, Johannes, Melia, Zachary, and Ben. She is also survived by her 3 brothers: Jaap, Sibrand (Nan) of Rotterdam and Seerp (Toet) of Baarn and many other nieces and nephews in Holland, England, Curacao and Switzerland. The family will hold a private burial followed by a memorial service to be held in Maple Ridge at St. Andrews United Church on Friday, April 27, 2007 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. Expressions of sympathy can be made at www.GardenHill.ca