Pietje Bylsma - July 2, 1921 to December 29, 2015

Released from her earthly cares, graduated on to her eternal home and reunited with the father of their children, Wobbe, her husband of 67 years. Now she can rest. “Velterusten” Mom.
The Bylsma family mourns the loss of their mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, yet rejoices in knowing what that means for her. She will be dearly missed by her children Theresa and Jim Brand, Dashwood; Auke and Christine, Blyth; Wibbina Toonk, Exeter; John and Ruby, Thorndale; Anne and Terry Kaastra, Holmesville; Cory and John Kuipers, Goderich and Patricia and David Brodie, Brucefield. She was grandma to 28 grandchildren and great-grandma to 50. She is also survived by her brother Willem (Tineke) Venema of Brampton and sister Corrie Bouma of the Netherlands, as well as countless nieces and nephews. Pietje was predeceased by son-in-law Gerald Toonk (2011), her husband Wobbe (2010), great-granddaughter Angela Bylsma-Moffat (2003) and grandson Shaun Kaastra (1993), as well as a number of siblings and in-laws and their spouses in the Netherlands and Canada.
Born in Lucaswolde, Groningen Pr., The Netherlands, Pietje Venema, daughter of Jan and Trientje married in 1943. Together with the oldest two children Pietje and Wobbe embarked on what was to be a life-changing voyage in 1948 to forge a new life in this country we are blessed to call our home. Part of an earlier wave of immigration, they showed that faith and determination could help to build a life for their family... first in eastern Ontario, then eventually settling in the Blyth area on the dairy farm on which her family all grew up. Coming from a dairy background Mom did not let herself be confined to the house as the farm grew. If asked to see it, one might be able to see her diploma from “milking school” from her younger years. Never with idle hands she gardened, knitted and raised her family and taught them Christian values and ethics. The two of them were able to travel in their motorhome around North America when retirement gave them the time. Unfortunately ill health in later years limited their opportunities to enjoy all that life had to offer and she was often confined to hospital care. The last six years she has been in the Seaforth Manor Nursing Home.
Visitation was held on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016 at the Christian Reformed Church, Clinton, where she has been a member for 61 years. The funeral service was held at the same location on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2016. Rev. Ron Luchies officiated. A private family interment preceded at the Clinton Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family asks you to consider donations to Huron Christian School (tuition relief), World Renew, or the charity of one’s choice. At this time the family would also like to express appreciation to the staff at the Manor for the part they had to play in Mom’s later years and the compassion shown particularily while in her palliative state.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Falconer Funeral Homes, Clinton.
Messages of condolence for the Bylsma family may be sent to www.falconerfuneralhomes.com