Beloved wife of Art Poppe, mother of Nancy (Henry) Schriemer, Sylvia (Jan) Borstlap, Annet (John) Louwerse, Josh (Henriette) Poppe, Judith (Derek) deWitt, and Elsa (Gerry) VanLaar, Alice was promoted to glory on June 5, 2021.
Alida Petronella Poppe (nee Roorda) was born on February 11, 1939 to Dirk Roorda and Sijgje Roorda-Houweling on the Island of Rozenburg, the Netherlands, close to the North Sea.
Ali did not go to school with a school bus! The school building was beside their house because her father was Principal-Teacher. After grade 6 she went to the Mulo (High school) at Maassluis. This meant that she had to bike about 4 miles to the ferry, cross the river and then bike further on to school.
The year 1954 saw her going to a school in Dokkum, Friesland in preparation for college. She stayed with her grandmother, aunt and cousin for the year. In September 1955 she went to a college in Rotterdam that trained her to teach home economics at the high school level. After 4 years she passed all the exams, the last one in June 1959 (pedagogy) in the city of Utrecht. She taught two years in Rotterdam at a “Huishoud” school. It was very busy for her, especially going back and forth to her parents’ place at Rozenburg. She found a home with an older couple close to her school who took her in as their own child.
That same year she met a young man formerly of the Island of Rozenburg, now living in the Noord-Oost Polder, Aarnout Poppe. Because of distance, our contacts were mainly by writing letters, keeping the mailman busy! After having taught two years in Rotterdam, Ali applied to teach in Spakenburg (province of Utrecht) where she was until we married, February 26, 1964.
We were engaged in December 1960 and while Ali was in Spakenburg, we looked for a house to rent. Due to the post-war housing shorgtage no house was available until January 1964. Finally a house became available in Nagele, close to the farm where Art worked with his dad. And so we married. Here Nancy, Sylvia and Annet were born.
In the mean time we were looking for a farm to start on our own, but as that was next to impossible, we considered immigration. After many preparations we immigrated to Chatham, Ontario where we lived and worked on a farm with much pleasure. We made many friends and had our uncle and aunt, who sponsored our immigration, living a half hour drive away.
But to start on our own was not easy, also there. Should we go to Manitoba? Another 2000 km west? We went. Everyone and everything in a U-Haul truck. Art found work with farmers who were growing potatoes near Carman so we settled there in April 1969. We lived on a farm that belonged to one of the farmers he worked for. The log house was cozy and warm. Alice had a garden of veggies and… flowers, her delight! We had a dog and cats and later cows and hogs.
In May 1970 the place came up for sale and our bid was accepted and we became farmers! Here Josh, Judith and Elsa were born. Here we grew up as parents and children, as family! We received many blessings from the Lord! We had each other, the church congregation, friends, neighbours and with time, 30 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren!
Now, after years of dementia, Alice died June 5th, 2021. She was taken by the Lord to heaven. To Him be praise and adoration!
As family we are very grateful to all the Home Care ladies who cared so kindly for Alice these past few years so that she was able to remain home to the end. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr Braun for all the many years of care and Dr Woelk and palliative care for their support this last year.
Alida Petronella Poppe (nee Roorda) was born on February 11, 1939 to Dirk Roorda and Sijgje Roorda-Houweling on the Island of Rozenburg, the Netherlands, close to the North Sea.
Ali did not go to school with a school bus! The school building was beside their house because her father was Principal-Teacher. After grade 6 she went to the Mulo (High school) at Maassluis. This meant that she had to bike about 4 miles to the ferry, cross the river and then bike further on to school.
The year 1954 saw her going to a school in Dokkum, Friesland in preparation for college. She stayed with her grandmother, aunt and cousin for the year. In September 1955 she went to a college in Rotterdam that trained her to teach home economics at the high school level. After 4 years she passed all the exams, the last one in June 1959 (pedagogy) in the city of Utrecht. She taught two years in Rotterdam at a “Huishoud” school. It was very busy for her, especially going back and forth to her parents’ place at Rozenburg. She found a home with an older couple close to her school who took her in as their own child.
That same year she met a young man formerly of the Island of Rozenburg, now living in the Noord-Oost Polder, Aarnout Poppe. Because of distance, our contacts were mainly by writing letters, keeping the mailman busy! After having taught two years in Rotterdam, Ali applied to teach in Spakenburg (province of Utrecht) where she was until we married, February 26, 1964.
We were engaged in December 1960 and while Ali was in Spakenburg, we looked for a house to rent. Due to the post-war housing shorgtage no house was available until January 1964. Finally a house became available in Nagele, close to the farm where Art worked with his dad. And so we married. Here Nancy, Sylvia and Annet were born.
In the mean time we were looking for a farm to start on our own, but as that was next to impossible, we considered immigration. After many preparations we immigrated to Chatham, Ontario where we lived and worked on a farm with much pleasure. We made many friends and had our uncle and aunt, who sponsored our immigration, living a half hour drive away.
But to start on our own was not easy, also there. Should we go to Manitoba? Another 2000 km west? We went. Everyone and everything in a U-Haul truck. Art found work with farmers who were growing potatoes near Carman so we settled there in April 1969. We lived on a farm that belonged to one of the farmers he worked for. The log house was cozy and warm. Alice had a garden of veggies and… flowers, her delight! We had a dog and cats and later cows and hogs.
In May 1970 the place came up for sale and our bid was accepted and we became farmers! Here Josh, Judith and Elsa were born. Here we grew up as parents and children, as family! We received many blessings from the Lord! We had each other, the church congregation, friends, neighbours and with time, 30 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren!
Now, after years of dementia, Alice died June 5th, 2021. She was taken by the Lord to heaven. To Him be praise and adoration!
As family we are very grateful to all the Home Care ladies who cared so kindly for Alice these past few years so that she was able to remain home to the end. We also extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr Braun for all the many years of care and Dr Woelk and palliative care for their support this last year.