GRACE VENEMA

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GRACE VENEMA (nee GEESKE DE JONG) Peacefully, after a long illness, Grace Venema passed away at River Park Gardens Personal Care Home on February 15, 2017, at the age of 81. Geeske de Jong was born on January 24, 1936 in Nijemirdum, Fryslân, the Netherlands; the fifth of 10 children of Gepke de Jong-Visser and Harmen Ynses de Jong. An innate student, Geeske's formal education was interrupted by her family's immigration to Canada in 1952. In 1958, Grace married Douwe (Dave) Venema and they settled in the south St. Vital area of Winnipeg to raise their three children. A natural teacher, Grace made that sure all her children could read before they entered the public school system. Grace completed her GED in 1978, and, later that year entered the University of Winnipeg as a mature student. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in French and Religious Studies in 1988, one of her proudest accomplishments. Grace was a long-time member of the Reformed Church in America, and later an adherent of the United Church of Canada. Her passion for social justice was a natural outgrowth of theological insight, and she instilled this in all those around her. She participated actively in many community organizations, including Cho!ces, Project Peacemakers, and Reflection-Action-Reflection (RAR), and forged many long and nourishing friendships through those groups. A dedicated advocate for literacy and education, Grace qualified as an instructor with Laubach Literacy of Canada in 1991. She spent more than a decade as a volunteer tutor to newcomers to Canada, teaching English reading and writing skills. Grace loved the arts, particularly drama, music and singing. She held season tickets to various theatre groups for many years, and attended instrumental and choral concerts with enthusiasm. She sang in her church choir and continued to enjoy singing until her illness made this impossible. Grace was predeceased by both her parents; her siblings Ynse (John) de Jong, Bertha Kruizenga, and Hendrik (Henry) de Jong; her grandson Hendrik Thomas (Harry) Neudoerffer Venema; parents-in-law and siblings-in-law. She is survived by her devoted husband, Dave; her children Alexandra (Gary Hornby), Kathleen (Gareth Neufeld) and Henry (Cynthia Neudoerffer); grandchildren Gwyneth Hornby and Lydia and Sebastien Venema; step-grandchildren Simon Neufeld (Judith) and Sara Neufeld (Matthew); great-grandchildren Nora and Adeline Broeska-Neufeld; siblings Lina van Solkema, Hinke Polet, Lou deJong, Jessie Bosma (Douwe), Eta Meinders (Henk), and Gerta deJong; brothers and-sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews in the Netherlands, Canada, and the United States; and many friends. A celebration of Grace's life will be held at St. Mary's Road United Church, 613 St. Mary's Road, on Saturday, March 11, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. The family wishes to thank the staff at River Park Gardens for their dedicated care for Grace over the past four years. "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 04, 2017