April 28, 1946 - November 2, 2020
Dini passed away peacefully in the arms of her husband of 57 years on November 2, 2020 in Chilliwack, BC.
She was predeceased by her parents, Marinus and Fenneken Kolkman (nee Kamphuis). She is survived by her husband Wiebe (Bill) Geerts and her children Francina (Martin) Maarhuis, Neleen (Keith) Lanting, Gary (Renee) Geerts, and Michelle Geerts; her 16 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; and siblings Marinus (Barb), Anna Maria (John), Gerald (Linda), Jocelyn (Garry) and Michael.
She will also be missed by her many nieces, nephews, surviving aunts and uncle!
Dini was born on April 28, 1946 in Wierden, The Netherlands, the first child of Marinus and Fenny Kolkman. She married Bill, her high school sweetheart, in 1963 in Hamilton, Ontario.
She spent many years raising their family of four children, supporting her husband Bill as he went back to University and became an ordained minister, and always being a force in her extended family and community.
After moving back to Richmond Hill Ontario, Dini graduated Summa Cum Laude from Redeemer University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. This was particularly remarkable given she was functionally deaf which required a note-taker to attend all her lectures.
Dini had a successful career as a Social Worker in which she supported people with disabilities of all types, whom often had complex multiple issues, until she retired in 2011.
Dini was accomplished at many things and always an active, vibrant and passionate person. She loved reading alone or with the book club. She was an avid and talented quilter who would have multiple quilts on the go at the same time. She was a great baker and cook who spent hours canning and preserving. Her raspberry jam and bread & butter pickles were family favourites.
Dini was a great listener who could be counted on to be first to jump in and help others. She had a great sense of humor and infectious laugh; and was passionate about doing things right (aka stubborn).
She was engaged fully in life: whether that was enjoying nature, acting as the treasurer of the strata, volunteering at the Mission Thrift store, or leading a bible study group; Dini was "all in" she had a way of making people feel welcome and valued.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday November 7, 2020 at 1pm Pacific and will be broadcast online for anyone wishing to attend remotely. You can join the service virtually at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6hUUHAxqbA&feature=youtu.be.
Condolences can be sent to: dinigeertsmemorium@gmail.com