Obituary of Beatrix Nicolaa Josephina Van Ryn

Van Ryn, Beatrix Nicolaa Josephina With great sadness, the family announces the passing of Beatrix (Bea) Nicolaa Josephina (Litjens) Van Ryn of London, on Nov. 22nd at Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care. After a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's disease, Bea left us peacefully in her 89th year. Beloved wife of the late Gerardus Van Ryn (2005). Cherished sister of Ria Litjens of the Netherlands (Druten) and survived by a very large extended family in the Netherlands. Beloved mother of Jack and Mary of Toronto, Gerry and Kathy of Calgary, Ted and Cathy of Mount Brydges, Betty and Neville of Christchurch, New Zealand, John of Toronto, Herman and Karen of London, Dorothy and Fred of London, Joe and Nora of Ottawa and Leny and Chris of Ottawa. Survived also by 21 grandchildren. Bea will be well remembered. Bea had a strong faith and commitment to the church. One of her favourite prayers was the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi. This prayer for peace reflects the fact she was the channel of peace for her children and grandchildren. Bea was very proud of her family. Enduring the devastation of WWII in Holland, Bea's strength was tested when she lost her parents and brother in February of 1945. Through immigration to Canada in 1950 and the growth of her family, Bea showed great patience, endurance, sacrifice and commitment to all. With determination, hard work and a wonderful sense of humour, she had an ability to overcome adversity and create a spirit of hope. Bea was a very loving and giving person who spent many years as part of the Catholic Women's League. She sang in the senior Choir of St. Martin's Catholic Church. Bea and Gerard enjoyed 15 years of retirement together and a total of 58 years of marriage. The family would like to thank the 3rd floor staff at St. Mary's for their compassion and care. We would like to especially thank Elizabeth (Els Beretta) Schroeder for her commitment to our mother since the passing of Gerard. Els brought with her a sense of humour, empathy, compassion and certainly dedication despite her own health challenges. Also, we would like to thank Gloria Sutherland for her attentive, compassionate care of our mother. Thank you to June for her thoughtfulness and kindness. As in the prayer of St. Francis, "It is in dying that we are born to eternal life". Visitors will be received at the John T. Donohue Funeral Home, 362 Waterloo Street at King Street, London on Tuesday, Nov. 25th from 2-6, funeral mass on Wednesday, Nov. 26th at 11:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Hope Chapel in Mount Hope Centre for Long Term Care. Interment in St. Peter's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Parkinson Foundation or the ALS Society would be greatly appreciated. Share a memory or send condolences to www.donohuefuneralhome.ca.