On January 9th, 2013, Maryke Duyker went to be with her heavenly Father.
Maryke was born in Westbroek, Holland on September 4th 1918, to Johannes
and Reijertje Wateler. Maryke and Willem Duyker immigrated to Canada in
1951 with their three oldest sons, where they first lived and worked briefly on a farm in Harold, Ontario. Their time in Canada took the
family from Harold, to London
Ontario, then to Peterborough
Ontario and finally to Abbotsford, BC in 1982. Upon arriving in Canada,
leaving behind the comforts and security of family and friends in Eindhoven, Holland, Maryke worked ceaselessly to build a new life and
support her husband and family of five boys. No task was too small or menial for Maryke, and all were undertaken with diligence and commitment. She
always noticed and reached out to those who were less fortunate or somehow burdened. She was a tireless worker who gave generously of herself. Maryke was well known for giving hundreds and hundreds of flower bouquets to those who were shut in at places like Extendicare or Civic Hospital in
Peterborough, or simply to the churches or to her neighbours wherever she lived.
She became known as the “Flower Lady”, as she picked the flowers from her own
garden and those of friends and neighbours. Her sense of giving and caring for those in need lives on within all of us as core values that she
has passed onto our entire family.
Maryke was predeceased by her husband Willem and her son Hans, who both passed
away in 1996. She is survived
by her sons, Pete (Joanne, grandchildren Geoff, Sarah, and Ashley, great-grandchildren Bennett, Chase
and Ashton), Ron (grandchildren
Eli and Christina, great-grandchildren Lola, Jude, Ridley and Milo), Rob
(Laurie, grandchildren Jonathan,
David and Benjamin), Eric (Delee, grandchildren Nicola and Willem), daughter-in-law Helinda and all
of the many friends that she made over the years. Maryke had 14 siblings and
is now only survived by her older sister Lies (96) in Holland. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday April 6th, 2013 at 2:00pm in the Azalea
Room at Garden Park Tower (2825 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford, BC). In lieu of flowers, please contribute to “Beyond Malibu – Young Life Ministries”, the important youth ministry work that was dear to
Maryke’s heart and lead by her son Rob. beyondmalibu. younglife.org