Psalm 39:4

Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days,

what it is; that I may know how frail I am.

With deep sorrow we announce the sudden passing away of our dear wife, mother, grandmother and sister, Aafje Van Garderen-Stigter at the age of 68 years on November 30, 2023.

She will be lovingly remembered by her dear husband, Jan (John) Van Garderen, and their 12 children, 49 grandchildren and 3 bonus grandchildren: Jan Willem and Annemarie Van Garderen (Katy, Tristan & Tara, Lena and Opal), Marieke and Ed Klok (Brooklyn), Annet and Mark Hengstmengel (Arie, John, Amy, Mark, Elina, Sarah, and Jenna), Janneke and Krijn Soet (Jonathan & Rebecca, Gerrit, Mariette, Anita, Esther, Ryan and Lydia), Herma and Harvey de Kok (Aundrea, Thomas, Sharlynn, Connor, Kenzie, Natalie, Arielle and Asher), Gerda Van Garderen & Hank Vanessen (Shane), Thea and Nico VanderSmit (Leah, Marlene, Karlee, and Clinton), Karin and Richard Van Hoef (Bradley, Nathan and Zachary), Teus and Hendrika Van Garderen (Jaeden, Hudson, Carter, Linden, Bethany, and Nelson), Avelien and Henry Oskam (Kiara, Carmen, Colson, Shamira, Damien, Shaniya and Kienan), Dirk and Danielle Van Garderen (Peyton, Hailey, Myles and Everlee), Laura and Jonathon Neufeld.

She is also mourned by her brothers and sisters from the Netherlands, Hanneke Stigter-Blankers, Jannie Stigter, Petra & Jasper de Gier, Teus & Sandra Stigter, Hendrik-Jan & Marieke Stigter, Jeannette & Piet Brokking, Kees & Marjolein Stigter, Laurens Stigter & Lillian, Evert Stigter & Ilse, Gerdien & Maarten van Oostenbrugge, Anneke & Ton Koetsier, Hennie & Bart-Jan Spruyt. Sisters and brothers in law: Maartje Doornekamp, Aresia van Garderen-Ederveen, Wim & Jannie Blom, Bert Streef, and Wim van Garderen.

 Aafke was predeceased by her stillborn son, her parents: Teunis & Hendrika Stigter- Verwey, her father and mother-in-law: Willem and Anna Van Garderen-Bos, her brother Dirk Stigter, her brothers in law: Herman Van Garderen and Arie Doornekamp, and sister-in-law: Geertje Streef.

Mom was born in Benschop on July 7, 1955, and married her husband, Jan, on May 19, 1976. On October 18, 1997, the family immigrated to Picture Butte, Alberta from Lopikerkapel, The Netherlands. They lived on several farms before moving into Picture Butte in 2018. On November 30, 2023, she passed away at the Lethbridge Hospital surrounded by her husband and all her children.

We would like to thank the emergency staff, doctors and nurses in the ICU for the excellent care given during the short time she was there.

Opportunity for Condolences will be held from 7:00 to 8:00 pm, on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at the NETHERLANDS REFORMED CONGREGATION OF PICTURE BUTTE, 601 3A STREET, Picture Butte, Alberta.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 am, on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at the NETHERLANDS REFORMED CONGREGATION OF PICTURE BUTTE, 601 3A STREET, Picture Butte, Alberta, with Reverend E. C. Adams, officiating.

Interment will follow at the Memorial Cemetery of Picture Butte, Alberta.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethesda Care Home, 701, 3 A Street South, Picture Butte, Alberta, T0K 1V0.