Doreen Selles

Doreen Selles

It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing away of our beloved mother and grandmother. She passed away peacefully at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital October 14, 2016 with family at her side. Daughter of Herman Cornelius Bollaan and Henriette Obertrup-Bollaan (Indonesia), pre-deceased by brothers Carel (Holland), Bob (U.S.A.) and sister Hetty (New Zealand). Doreen will be dearly missed by her sons Hendrik (Henri) and Ronald, daughters in-law Joyce Peterson and Cora Selles; grandchildren Doreen Sauve (nee Selles) and Craig Selles (and their respective spouses, Brian Sauve and Laura Selles), Stephen and Alana Peterson (and their respective spouses Danielle Tassie and Luis Duran); great grandchildren Madeline, Celia, Ava Sauve; Kiara, Hailey, Chloe, Aidan Selles. Joseph Tassie-Peterson, Manny Duran and Savannah Duran. Doreen is fondly remembered by Lance, Jesse and Ellana Sauve, her sister Pia (U.S.A), brother Harry and sister Ineke (Holland); her pre-deceased husband’s (Harm Selles,1979) family in Holland; her nephew Julian (son of Hetty), his spouse Julie and their family in New Zealand; and members of the Bollaan family in Holland.

Born in Indonesia on November 5, 1924, it is there she met and married her husband Harm Selles. In the wake of increasing civil strife, they were forced to leave Indonesia and moved to post-war Holland in the late 1940s, and then emigrated to Canada in 1959 with their two young sons, finally settling in Oakville, where she has lived since in her own home.

Doreen loved gardening, cooking, sewing, travelling to visit with her brothers and sisters as well as having them visit her, and especially spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a very giving, caring, loving, empathetic and nurturing person who would always extend her warm hospitality and be happy to treat you to her much loved Dutch “butterkoek”, yet her inner strength and determination saw our family through many difficulties.

A service was held at Ward’s Funeral Home in Oakville, Ontario on Monday, October 17, 2016.