Rindertje “Rinny” Wind

Rinny Wind went to be home with her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, surrounded by love, with her children by her side in the early hours of the morning on Wednesday 28^th of February 2024. Beloved wife of Jake for 58 years. Loving mother of Monica and Marten (Michelle). Cherished grandmother of Aaren (Sam Jones), Kassandra (Phil), Austin, Jacob, Olivia and Emma.

She found joy in the simple things. She loved to laugh, relished adventure and made mischief where she could. She loved nothing more than to talk about anything another person had on their mind, to help another to find their way all while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea or one of Jake’s special rum and coke mixes!

Rinny had a wide variety of interests. She enjoyed horseback riding and found great pleasure in caring for the ponies we had in the 1970’s. She loved reading, golfing, knitting, crochet, swimming, canoeing, sailing the canoe, camping, travelling, walking and after she retired she learned about and loved Folk art. She spoke warmly of the friends she made while attending classes for folk art. Rinny was such a creative, intelligent, intuitive, fun, daring and playful person.

She enjoyed her nursing career, which started in Holland and from which she retired in the early 1990’s. She was proud to be an RN. She especially loved Paediatrics and psychiatry in her early career. She was employed at the Oshawa General Hospital (as it was known then) on 6 Main a surgical unit from 1965 until approximately 1991. She would tell us how they called her “Windy” there.

Mom made many life long friends while we lived in Crooked Creek and she definitely indulged her love of mischief and adventure with them.

She was a Christian and after some time she found a church family she felt at home with at St. Andrews Presbyterian in Bowmanville. Rinny deeply loved her husband Jake, he was her everything, her forever love. She loved her children, her daughter in law-the daughter of her heart. She was so proud and supportive of them. She loved her sisters and her brother. Her brothers and sisters in law became treasured friends through her life. She was a woman who was able to embrace the changes in life with grace and courage. She was so supportive of her loved ones, even when things did not align with her perspectives.

She so loved her grandchildren, they were her light, they each one made her proud and brought her joy.

She truly wanted others to be happy, to find joy in life, Rinny’s final words were of her great love and happiness to have been wife, mother, Oma to her family. She also spoke of her love for everyone. Of her wish for people to feel loved and to be happy. She has created a space in each of us filled with love, appreciation and blessings to have been part of her life. She will be greatly missed.

Thomas Hugh McAleese

May 25, 1944 – February 21, 2024: Thomas “T-Mac” passed peacefully on February 21, at Lakeridge Health Bowmanville at the age of 79.

Predeceased by his wife Sandra McAleese(2009). Loving partner to Karen. Cherished father to Sharon, Scott(Katie) and Stephanie(Peter). Proud Pa to Ryan, Aaron, Jack, Josie, Anna, Charlotte, Evelyn, Kellen, Laura, Joel and Kyle. T-Mac will be dearly missed by all of his extended family and friends in Canada and Northern Ireland.

RECOGNITION SUNDAY – DECEMBER 10, 2023

A church or congregation of faith is made up of many individuals who seek to worship, grow in faith, and serve wherever needed. In 2023, our church wishes to thank and recognize a number of individuals for their service to our congregation. They are:

- Elizabeth Jobb – for her leadership, pastoral care and preaching the majority of our church services this year.
- Eddy Soler – for his musical talent and youthful spirit that engages our participation in services of worship.
- Jeff Kryzanowski – for his steadfastness in his duties as Treasurer to ensure the excellent ongoing financial management of our church’s funds and investments.
- Sharon Dunn – for her many skills and faithfulness in supporting the on-going operations of our congregation.
- Julie McKay – for her commitment and diligence as our Envelope Secretary, (and husband Steve).
- Barbara Willson – for her faithfulness in producing our monthly newsletter to the congregation.

Members attending Congregational Lunch on 3 December 2023:

Henry Haass: June 24, 1932 – November 18, 2023

Henry left us November 18, 2023, at the age of 91,after several months of declining health. He is survived by his wife, the former Betty Glendinning, his son John (Petra), his daughter Marilyn (George Muizelaar) and his daughter Margaret. He will be greatly missed.

Rev. Jobb conducted the funeral on 22 November 2023 at Northcutt Elliott Funeral Home. It was well attended with over 100 people present.

Henry created the intricate back lighting for the Celtic Cross at the front of the sanctuary. He also built the Memory Cabinet which holds many photos that is mounted on the wall at the rear of the sanctuary.

The Men’s Big Breakfast Club

The Men’s Big Breakfast Club has been meeting at the Fishermen’s Restaurant on Highway #115, north of Newcastle, just off the 401, every second Wednesday at 9:00 am for years and years.

On October 11, 2023, our group got together to enjoy good food and great fellowship at the Fishermen’s Restaurant.

Bev Johnston (1937 – 2023)

After a short bout with pneumonia, Bev passed away on May 16th. at Lakeridge Health Ajax-Pickering Hospital. He was 85 years old.

Bev was well known in the construction industry as he had worked his way up from a young age. Altogether Bev spent over 50 years working in and loving construction. Through his work, Bev traveled throughout Ontario and made many connections and friends. In his off time, Bev enjoyed fishing, was an avid Leafs fan and loved taking long car rides. Above all Bev was a family man, he was proud of his family and loved spending time with them.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Carol and his parents Tom and Iva. Bev is survived by his siblings, Marilyn, Marg, Ivan and Larry, his children Joe (Tracy), Linda (Ken), Sharon (Rob), Kevin (Bonnie) and Michelle (Lou); his grandchildren Brooklyn, Logan, Zachary, Trent, Connor, Emily, Mackenzie, Allison, Joshua, Victoria and Elizabeth and his great grandchildren Derek, Aubrey, Riviera, Winter and Keegan as well as many nieces and nephews.

Easter Morning Breakfast 2023

This year we resumed our Easter Breakfast before Easter Sunday church service. Thank you to the many individuals who planned, prepared, served, came, enjoyed eating and cleaned up after the breakfast. Again, thank you for all donations to this Fund Raiser.

Special thanks to Nancy M., Doreen G. and Yvonne K. for your leadership in this event.

COOKS: Glen, Jim, Yvonne cooked meat; Eva and Doreen cooked muffins.

SERVERS: Ryan, Aaron, Erik and Ian.

FRANK HIEMSTRA, 1936 – 2023

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Bowmanville, is sad to inform you of the passing of Frank Hiemstra (1936-2023). Frank passed away at Glenhill Strathaven Long Term Care on February 16, 2023.

Frank is survived by his wife, Grace Hiemstra (nee Dam) their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Rev. Jobbs administering the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper to the congregation.

Early Scottish settlers brought their sacramental customs to Canada, including Bowmanville. Often, they erected a trestle table in the sanctuary, and there the communicants seated themselves in order to share the bread.

Church secretary and all-around “Go-To Gal” Sharon Dunn, running the media for Sunday services. Thank you Sharon for all you do!

Rev. Elizabeth Jobb administering Communion for those who can’t physically attend church. Thank you Rev. Jobb!

Remembering the life of Jean Hall

Jean passed away peacefully at Northumberland Hills Hospital at the age of 93 years, on April 9, 2022. She is survived by her daughter, Charlene (Roland) and grandchildren: Joshua (Kim), Brent (Kirsti) and Graydon (Aemelia) and is great grandmother of William, Audrey, Christopher, Hart and anxiously expected Flora.

Jean has been described as a very kind and sweet lady. One Memorial Tribute states: “She was the sweetest lady. I am so happy that I have had her as a friend. She would always make you feel special in her own way.” She will be missed.

Quilts for Survivors

In May 2021 my friend, Shelley, and I joined a Facebook group called ‘Quilts for Survivors’ which was started by an indigenous quilter in Timmins, ON in response to the 215 children found buried at a former residential school site. Her plan was to collect quilt blocks made by people across Canada to be assembled into quilts to then be given to residential school survivors as a token of support, respect, and love.

The response to the “Quilts for Survivors” program has been overwhelming. To date they have sent out over 1,000 quilts to survivors and have close to 600 more requests for quilts.

The picture of QUILT #1 (above) is the original quilt that we made in the summer of 2021. It was hung for display in her school before being smudged and gifted. We tried to include motifs/patterns that had meaning to the indigenous community: medicine wheel colours, bear paw, woven star, night sky, blue heron, and a turtle. The quilts are to have some orange in them somewhere – to represent the ‘every child matters’ movement.

The quilts in the picture of QUILT #2 were pieced by fellow Canadians and quilted and bound by Shelley and myself.

The Facebook group is ‘Quilts for Survivors’ and features many stories and pictures of beautiful quilts. Their website is https://www.quiltsforsurvivors.ca/ . I truly feel it is a meaningful and worthwhile endeavour for both the quilters and the survivors. (Sue Green is a member of St. Andrews Presbyterian and shared the information above.)