Gerardina “Dina” Vercammen (Vereyken)
April 16, 1932 – October 11, 2020
Dina was born in Bergeijk, The Netherlands in 1932. That is where she, along with her parents and eight siblings lived until the decision was made to come to Canada. In 1948 at the age of 16, she arrived in Canada to a new culture and different language. It was soon after that she found herself working as a housekeeper. After a few years, she caught the eye of another Dutch immigrant and in 1955, she and Harry Vercammen were married. They settled on a farm South of Wauchope. Over the course of the next 16 years, Dina and Harry welcomed seven children. Times were tough on the farm and Mom needed to be careful how money was spent. Clothes were sewn, bread was baked, gardens were grown, cows were milked, and cows, chickens and pigs were raised. She had a very strong faith and that meant going to church every Sunday with all the kids groomed and nicely dressed. Only the worst of snowstorms could keep that from happening. In 1997 Dina and Harry sold the farm and moved to Redvers to enjoy their retirement. Dina became active in the church there in addition to enjoying the freedom of visiting friends nearby by just jumping on her bike. Eating brunch out on Sundays became a new routine as well as card games around the kitchen table with some of the neighbours. She continued to tend to a big garden in town and was so proud of the beautiful flowers she could look at from her kitchen window. In 2015 both Harry and Dina felt the time was right to give up some of the hard work of owning a house with a big yard, and together they moved to the Primrose Chateau in Saskatoon. It wasn’t long before new friendships were made and new activities filled their days. She loved nothing more than when her kids, grandkids and now great-grandkids would stop by for a visit. Dina’s strong faith helped to ease the pain of losing Harry in 2018 and her daughter Linda to cancer in 2012. Left to mourn her passing are her six children Gerry (Carol), John (Sandra), James (Kelleen), Mike (Mary), Betty (Darren), and Dan (Trina) as well as 17 grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren and 4 step-great-grandchildren. Her surviving three sisters (Corrie, Cathy, Maria) and three brothers (Adrian, Cornelius, John) also grieve this loss. Dina now joins Harry, Linda and a multitude of family and friends who have gone before her. She will be missed. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 22, 2020 with live-streaming available at: www.faithproductions.ca/livestream . Arrangements in care of Aimé Laventure – Mourning Glory Funeral Services (306) 978-5200.
