Connie van Roessel

1929 - 2022

 Alegonda Johanna Maria van Roessel (née Vissers), beloved wife of the late Jack van Roessel, passed away peacefully watching the sunrise in Bow Island on Thursday, January 27, 2022 at the age of 92 years.

 A Prayer Service was held at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Bow Island on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at 7:00 P.M.

 The Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Bow Island on Thursday, February 3, 2022 at 10:30 A.M. Burial followed at the Bow Island Cemetery.

 Connie graced this world and everyone around her for ninety-two years. She is survived by her six children, Will (Jean) Van Roessel of Bow Island and their family Jessie (Brandon) Lysholm, Rowan and Naomi; Karen (Walter) Friesen of Bonnyville and their family Tyler (Sharlene) (their children Evan and Owen), Jeff (Tiffany) (their children Ryann, Levi, Devyn and Blake), Jaret (Jodi) (their son J’den) and Natasha (Andrew) Grambo (their children Andie, Eli, Emerson and Cali); John (Susanne) van Roessel of Calgary and their family Logan, Quinn and Spencer; Janet (Rod) Carlyon of Dapp and their family Andria Carlyon (Derrick Rimmer and their child Maeve), Jessica and Briana; Pauline Van Roessel of Calgary; Rob (Stephanie Hlady) Van Roessel of Bow Island and their family Meredith and Jake. She is also survived by in-laws Frans Lauwers and Jo Vissers of the Netherlands and numerous relatives, nieces and nephews in both Canada and the Netherlands.

 Besides Jack, her loving husband of sixty-three years, Connie was predeceased by all her siblings Rie, Rina, Jan, Sjaan, Ad, Kees, Jo and Albert.

 Alegonda was born to parents Johannes and Catharina Vissers-van Loon on December 18, 1929, in Drunen, the Netherlands. She grew up on a mixed farm with her many siblings. In her teenage years, she worked as a seamstress and went to neighbours’ homes to help with new mothers, aging mothers and general house help. During those years, she met Jack van Roessel, married in 1954 and purchased a one-way honeymoon ticket to Canada. After working on a few farms in Southern Alberta, they managed to save enough money to purchase the current family farm, north of Bow Island. Although taking English lessons in the Netherlands before emigrating, her most significant English lessons came from dialogue with a four-year-old boy in Warner.

 The early farming years were very difficult, with several consecutive years of hailstorms, but with the strong support of the Bow Island community, they were able to persevere. Connie was a hard-working mother and wife for all her years, and her strong faith helped her through difficult times. Feeding family and guests was of utmost importance to her hospitable nature, whether it be a meal, leftovers for the road, cheese and crackers or peppermints in the wooden bowl. She provided a seemingly endless supply of homemade bread, beef from the farm and fruits and vegetables from the massive garden. All six children were blessed with homemade clothing for all their formative years and maybe even a few years after they really wanted them. Friends and family will agree that Connie committed to hundreds of phone calls throughout the years, to congratulate them on their birthdays, anniversaries and birthdays of their children. Although reserved in nature, there was often a twinkle in her eye and so many spontaneous moments of silliness and laugh-till-you-cry occasions. As the years went by, Connie and Jack were able to travel the world, enjoy farm tours and take trips to see their children and grandchildren. Connie and Jack were committed to living on the farm for as long as possible, keeping up the house and enjoying the “house that Jack built”.

 If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Connie’s name may be made directly to the Bow Island and District Health Foundation, Bag 3990, Bow Island, Alberta T0K 0G0 to the Canadian Cancer Society, 200, 325 Manning Road NE, Calgary, Alberta T2E 2P5 www.cancer.ca or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 100, 119 - 14 Street NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1Z6 www.heartandstroke.ca.