Emmy Voorberg

After a brief struggle with Covid, our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Emmy (Ymkje) Rauwerda Voorberg, aged 91 is in heaven with her heavenly Father. She left this earth on December 9, 2020. She was predeceased by her husband Marinus (Mike) Voorberg in 2017. Emmy was born on the 27th of August, 1929, the oldest of nine children of Ebe and Tjitske Rauwerda. She was an island girl, raised on the island of Texel, Netherlands. She immigrated to Ontario, Canada with her parents and siblings in 1954. She was 24 years old. She met her future husband at Union Station in Toronto; he had been sent to help pick up the large Rauwerda family and transport them back to the Holland Marsh area. He was immediately struck by this beautiful, dark haired girl. She and Mike married in 1955 and had four children: Shirley (Gerald), Robert (Michelle), Elizabeth, and Caroline (Rob). They had ten grandchildren: Lauren (Paul), Kristen (David), Ian (Kendra), Emily, Ben, Michael, Eric, Abigail, Luke, and Shannen. Emmy was always knitting and crocheting all manner of creations, stuffed animals, afghans, and socks-all those warm, woolly socks! She was always chatty and friendly and would talk to anyone. She worked in a thrift store for many years and if she brought something home, it was always "brand new" (except she said it in Dutch!) Emmy and Mike enjoyed travelling together, the cottage life and the "snow bird" flight to Florida each winter. In 2014 they left their long time home in Newmarket and moved to Holland Christian Homes-first to an apartment and then to Faith Manor. The friendliness of Emmy made them a welcome sight as they walked up and down the corridors, Mom pushing Dad in his wheelchair. As Covid forced lockdowns, technology allowed us to visit with Mom, chatting with her via Zoom calls. She perked up when she saw the two great granddaughters, Kate and Adeline!

Thank you to all at Faith Manor who helped care for our mother during this unprecedented pandemic. We are comforted to know that she is with her Saviour.

A private, graveside funeral followed Emmy's passing due to Covid-19 and provincial laws.