Berendina "Diane" Catharina Maria Bronswyk

October 25 1935 – October 12, 2022

With heavy hearts and deep sadness we wish to announce the sudden passing of our dear mother/oma on October 12, 2022 at the age of 86.
Diane leaves behind children Daniel (Patricia), Rosemary (Hamish) and Michael; her grandchildren Candace, Mariana, Alex, Sheldon and Caele; three great grandchildren Larissa, Nixon and Kiera. She also leaves behind her three sisters in the Nederlands: Lida Woerts, Annie Bentum and Ton Brummel. Predeceased in death by her loving husband of more than 55 years, Hendrikus “Henk” Gerardus Bronswyk; sisters Ria Kronenburg, Bep Fest, Greta Kramer; Brothers; Arnold & Henk Woerts.

Mom was born in Voorst, Nederlands. She was the third eldest in a family of nine children, of which she was the eldest of 7 girls. She grew up the daughter of a blacksmith in a very close loving family. Europe was going through hard times so she worked as a nanny to assist her parents financially raising a large family.

Mom was introduced through a friend, Betty Bronswyk to our father. Betty and her husband Wim were living in Canada along with our father Henk. Dad was looking for a pen pal and there it began. Our father came back to Holland to romance my mom. In a whirlwind they were engaged and our father went back to Canada to await his fiancee’s arrival.

Almost a year later Mom arrived in Canada, landing in Nova Scotia and taking a train across the country to Castlegar, BC. Dad was working as a baker and when Mom arrived he arranged a job for her working as a nanny. They were married in Castlegar in 1959. They built their first home together there. All three children were born in Castlegar and dad was looking for opportunities for the family. They packed up and moved to Kamloops where they started a successful bakery called the Dutch Maid Bakery in Valleyview. After 10 years they sold and travelled and then started another bakery in Red Deer Alberta which they ran for another 8 years and sold. In between bakeries, they travelled extensively with their motor home to Mexico and the USA.

Mom and Dad eventually settled in Sicamous, BC and started yet another bakery called the Main Baker as a hobby, catering to tourists for four months. It was not an easy life for mom, but wherever they landed mom made a loving home for all her friends and family. They finally retired in Vernon and mom was active in the church, helping in the thrift shop, singing in the choir and also a member of the CWL. After dad passed away mom moved to Kelowna and she loved her apartment. Her favourite activities were hosting people for coffee and dinners. She looked forward to friends’ visits, family dinners and loved watching her grandson Alex play hockey. Mom travelled to Greece, Alaska and Cabo after dad passed and was planning yet another trip to Mazatlan when she passed away. Mom had a big heart and had time for everyone, she loved to socialize and will be dearly missed by us all.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Coldstream on Friday, October 28, 2022 at 1:00 PM with reception to follow at the church.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Pleasant Valley Funeral Home, (250) 542-4333. Condolences may be left for the family at pleasantvalleyfh.com.