Obituary of Katherine Van Santen

VAN SANTEN: Katherine Van Santen (1939-2010). It is with great sadness that we, the family of Antonia Maria "Katherine" Van Santen, announce her passing on February 19, 2010, at her residence, Fairview Home in Brandon. Katherine was born on May 28, 1939, in Haarlemmermeer, The Netherlands, the sixth of Johanna and Jacobus Van Schie's eight children. With her family, she emigrated to Canada in 1953, living first in St. Eustache, Manitoba, and then in Middlechurch, where she attended school. At length, the Van Schie family settled in St. Andrews, and Kathy went to work in Eaton's in Winnipeg, where she started in the fur and boys' wear departments, and progressed to the accounting department. Kathy met John Van Santen of Brandon at a cousin's wedding, and they married in July, 1960. Taking up residence in Brandon, where John worked in the construction business, they raised three sons, Arnold, John and Allan. Kathy was known to all for her love of family and friends, and sharing her hospitality with everyone. A keen card-player, she hosted weekly cards games for friends. She loved to crochet (particularly afghans and bedspreads); she tended a huge vegetable garden, spending many hours blanching and freezing her produce each fall; and was justly famous for her baking, especially her specialties - almond rings, chocolate eclairs and lemon cheesecake. To see family and friends, whether near or far, was her great joy. She took her family on frequent visits to Winnipeg (especially at Christmastime) to visit their Van Schie relatives, and several times visited The Netherlands to reconnect with relatives, there. She delighted, too, in her 'littlest' family members, her beloved Pomeranians - and still found time to be involved in ladies' ten-pin bowling, even as she worked to help John with the bookkeeping for his construction business. But her greatest happiness, in recent years, was with her grandchildren, who remember her affectionately as a friend, a mentor, and a wonderful "Oma", who spoiled them constantly with unending, delicious treats from her kitchen. Due to her illness, Kathy moved to Fairview in 1999, where she enjoyed many visits from her husband, John, her brother and sisters, and her children and grandchildren, and the Christmas and birthday parties they celebrated together. Kathy was predeceased by her parents, Johanna and Jacobus; her brothers, John and Neal; her sister, Anita; and her husband, John. She is survived by her brother Eric (Gertie); her sisters Nellie (Bert) Bakker, Thea (John) Borsboom, and Willy (Ed) Carleton; her sons Arnold (Carla), John (Linda), and Allan (Debra); and her grandchildren Eric, Nicole, Keith, Julianne, Janna, Calvin, Brett, Hannah, Connor, and Logan. A Mass of Christian Burial and Celebration was held at St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church on Thursday, February 26, 2010, with Father James Ahaneku, Celebrant. Our family wishes to extend a special thanks to all the staff of Fairview Home who cared for Kathy, and to all those who have offered their kindness and support during this difficult time. There is a beautiful Dutch proverb which says, "Every goodbye is the birth of a memory." We are grateful to our Sister, Aunt, Mother, and Oma, for so many wonderful acts of kindness and love, and so many memories which will last us a lifetime.